Royal watchers were left perplexed by Prince William and the UK’s Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s seating arrangements during coverage of Pope Francis’ funeral in Vatican City on Saturday.
While world leaders such as US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania and European royals like Queen Mary of Denmark took centre stage as they watched the late pontiff’s coffin be placed before the altar in St Peter’s Basilica, William stood for a moment’s silence several rows back from the main cluster, with just the Jordanian royals one row in front of him.
The complex seating plan had nothing to do with importance on the global stage, however. In fact, it has been described as a “master plan” in soothing the “big egos” of world leaders by Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the leader of Catholics in England and Wales.
The seating arrangements were done in alphabetical order – but in French. This is due to it being considered the language of diplomacy, while also shaking up the order that an English speaker would expect.
Prince William at the Popes coffin
— FAN of the Prince & Princess of Wales (@TribesBritannia) April 26, 2025
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Of the 55 heads of state, 14 heads of government and 12 reigning monarchs joined mourners for the open-air service, the late Pope’s birth country of Argentina took precedence, followed by Italy, as the Pope is the bishop of Rome and leader of the nation’s Catholic bishops.
The seated plan was then executed in alphabetical order of reigning sovereign, heads of state, and heads of government.
While Trump appears relatively early in the line-up because America is listed as “Etats-Unis d’Amerique”, William is near the end due to the UK being translated as “Royaume-Uni”.
The Prince of Wales attended the funeral on behalf of Charles, head of the Church of England, in honour of Pope Francis, who was head of the Roman Catholic Church.
The decision for William, a future Supreme Governor of the Anglican church, to represent his father is in keeping with modern tradition and protocol.
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Charles, in his role as the Prince of Wales, previously attended Pope John Paul II’s funeral in 2005 on behalf of his mother, Elizabeth II.
The Princess of Wales was therefore not expected to fly to Rome for the service alongside her husband. HELLO! understands that family commitments may also have prevented her from attending.
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