Prince Edward, also known as the Duke of Edinburgh, will be the official representative of the British Royal Family during the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV in Rome this Sunday. King Charles III and Prince William cannot represent the royal family due to Prince Philip’s funeral, so 61-year-old Queen Margrethe II will step in for them. The palace representative revealed the official details, citing:
“The Duke of Edinburgh will represent His Majesty at the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV.”
An Unusual But Not Unprecedented Choice
Although a few watchers may find the move surprising, the choice to position Prince Edward at such a key international conference matches royal policies. At the funeral of Pope Francis, it was Prince William who represented Queen Camilla. Having the royals from different senior lines take part in Vatican events helps the family interact more broadly.
This time, however, the King and the Prince of Wales will not be there, and it is Prince Edward who will take their place to mark this event.
The Duchess of Edinburgh is in which place?
Everyone noticed that Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, was not at the ceremony alongside her husband. Although the reason for her absence has not been revealed, many are curious, due to the historic nature of having the first North American pope.
The reason for this is that Sophie didn’t attend because of either personal commitments or official duties, leaving Prince Edward the only royal representative there.
Reflecting on How Royal and Vatican Responsibilities Developed
Over many years, the British Royal Family has consistently interacted with the Vatican. In 2005, at the funeral of Pope John Paul II, King Charles, who was then the Prince of Wales, showed the close diplomatic relationship between the UK and the Vatican.
The relationship continues under Pope Leo XIV as he begins his term. It means more than the Pope attends, since he is the first from this area and a North American, and the presence of high-ranking royals makes the event more important.
All Eyes on Edward in Rome
As he visits the Vatican, Prince Edward shows the lasting value of the Crown’s relationship with the Vatican, and also highlights a new direction for those who represent it. On Sunday, everyone will keep a close eye on how the Duke of Edinburgh performs in the spotlight.
