The world is mourning after the passing of Pope Francis, whose wish was to be laid to rest not in the Vatican, but in the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. Before his funeral, his body will lie in state for three days at St. Peter’s Basilica, giving mourners and leaders from across the globe a chance to pay their respects.

Global figures like France’s President Emmanuel Macron, Argentina’s President Javier Milei, Donald Trump and his wife Melania, and British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer have all confirmed they will attend. Yet, notably, King Charles—despite his close personal bond with the pope—will not be there. And the reason why might surprise you.

According to royal expert Katie Nicholl, a centuries-old tradition prevents the reigning monarch from attending funerals. Royal protocol dictates that the Sovereign must stay away from funeral ceremonies, regardless of personal feelings. This explains why King Charles, even though he was the last head of state to meet Pope Francis before his death, will remain in the UK.

Instead, Prince William will attend the funeral on behalf of his father. It will be his first time officially representing King Charles at a major international event of this magnitude. In a touching parallel, Charles himself once stood in for Queen Elizabeth II at Pope John Paul II’s funeral decades ago.

Making this moment even more poignant is the deep friendship King Charles shared with Pope Francis. Just days before the pope’s passing, the two men met and exchanged heartfelt words. In a moving public statement, King Charles praised the pope’s compassion, leadership, and devotion to humanity and the environment, saying he had “touched countless lives across the world.”

As Prince William steps onto the world stage to honor the pope, this historic moment symbolizes both a personal farewell and a powerful echo of history repeating itself.