Prince Edward represented the The King at the Inauguration Mass of Pope Leo XIV, the newly elected leader of the Roman Catholic Church and the first-ever American pontiff.
This isn’t the first time His Royal Highness has represented the Monarch on state occasions, as earlier this year Edward travelled to the US to attend the funeral of former US President Jimmy Carter.
Traveling to Vatican City, Prince Edward joined a gathering of dignitaries and religious leaders for the ceremony. The event formally marked the beginning of Pope Leo XIV’s papacy, following his swift election on 8th May by 133 cardinals from 70 countries – less than three weeks after the passing of Pope Francis.
At Sunday’s Inaugural Mass, The Duke was accompanied by British Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Foreign Secretary David Lammy. Together, they joined leaders and royalty, including U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium, King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain, and Monaco’s Prince Albert and Princess Charlene.
🇻🇦🇬🇧 The Duke of Edinburgh greets Pope Leo XIV pic.twitter.com/VwI4voZkGj
— Imperial Material ♚ (@implmaterial) May 18, 2025
The British Royal Family’s presence at papal inaugurations has longstanding precedent. In 2013, Queen Elizabeth II was represented at Pope Francis’s inauguration by her cousin, Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester. In 2005, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, attended Pope Benedict XVI’s installation on behalf of the Queen. Most recently, following the death of Pope Francis, Prince William attended the late pontiff’s funeral last month on behalf of King Charles.
The King sent a private message of congratulations to Pope Leo XIV following his election.
