Why King Charles Won’t Attend Pope Francis’ Funeral World leaders are heading to Rome for Pope Francis’ funeral this Saturday — but King Charles won’t be among them. Due to royal protocol, the British monarch — also head of the Church of England — cannot attend foreign funerals, including those of popes. Instead, Prince William will represent the Royal Family. This follows tradition: in 2005, then-Prince Charles attended Pope John Paul II’s funeral, not Queen Elizabeth. Even after a recent private meeting with Pope Francis, Charles is still staying home. For Prince William, this marks a major diplomatic step, solidifying his role as a global representative for the monarchy
