King Charles and Prince William Won’t Attend Pope Leo XIV’s Inauguration — Here’s Who Buckingham Palace Is Sending Instead

In line with previous royal tradition, the British monarch will not attend the May 18 ceremony, instead sending another royal to represent His Majesty

King Charles and Prince William will not attend the inauguration mass of Pope Leo XIV. Instead, Buckingham Palace is sending someone else: Prince Edward.

The Duke of Edinburgh, 61, will represent His Majesty at the ceremony, a spokesperson for Buckingham Palace confirms to PEOPLE. The ceremony will be held on May 18 in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican City, according to Vatican News.

The King, 76, has already sent well wishes to the newly elected Pope Leo XIV, the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church and first-ever American pontiff.

According to Buckingham Palace, the British monarch sent a private message congratulating the pope on his and Queen Camilla’s behalf, Hello! Magazine and The Daily Mail reported.

Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh.Gilbert Carrasquillo/GC Images

Edward — who King Charles named as the new Duke of Edinburgh back in 2023 — will be the latest royal to represent the King, his older brother, in the Vatican.

In April, William, 42, attended the late Pope Francis’ funeral in Vatican City, a duty that typically falls on the heir to the throne. The prince represented the British royal family and the King at the April 26 ceremony, which was also attended by other royals, foreign dignitaries and religious leaders.

As heir, Charles previously represented his mother, Queen Elizabeth, at the 2005 funeral of Pope John Paul II. (That funeral even forced the royal to push back his wedding to Camilla by one day, so he and others could attend.)

Meanwhile, the late Queen Elizabeth never attended a funeral service for a pope, despite the fact that four — Pius XII, John XXIII, Paul VI and John Paul I — died during her 70-year reign. No one from the British royal family attended the 2023 funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.

Prince William at the funeral of Pope Francis on April 26.Antonio Masiello/Getty

As for previous papal inauguration masses, Francis’ 2013 ceremony was attended by the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester. The late Prince Philip, meanwhile, represented the Queen at the inauguration of Pope Benedict XVI back in 2005.

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The King shared a message following Pope Francis’ death on April 21, just a few weeks after he and Camilla met with the late leader on April 9. (Their initial visit was postponed due to the pope’s health at the time.)

“My wife and I were most deeply saddened to learn of the death of Pope Francis,” the monarch said of himself and Camilla, via Buckingham Palace. “Our heavy hearts have been somewhat eased, however, to know that His Holiness was able to share an Easter Greeting with the Church and the world he served with such devotion throughout his life and ministry.”

Pope Leo XIV.Simone Risoluti – Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty

“His Holiness will be remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith, and to those of goodwill who work for the benefit of others,” King Charles continued his tribute. “His belief that care for Creation is an existential expression of faith in God resounded with so many across the world. Through his work and care for both people and planet, he profoundly touched the lives of so many.”

Recalling his numerous visits to Pope Francis throughout the years, the monarch added, “We were greatly moved to have been able to visit him earlier in the month.”