Prince William has honoured the late Pope Francis on behalf of King Charles III.

He attended the Pontiff’s funeral in Vatican City, held in the grandeur of St Peter’s Square, which brought together an estimated 55 heads of state and twelve reigning monarchs.

Representing the Church of England, the future king stood in solemn silence before the Pope’s coffin, placed in front of the altar in St Peter’s Basilica.

With his hands clasped and head bowed, William joined global leaders in a quiet tribute to the life and legacy of the head of the Roman Catholic Church, as reported by the Mirror.

Dressed in a navy suit and black tie, Prince William made the journey alone and was later seen seated beside German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, an apparent deviation from the planned diplomatic seating arrangement.

The prince was expected to be near fellow heirs such as Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, but plans shifted during the tightly choreographed ceremony.

Prior to the funeral Mass, William briefly greeted US. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump inside the basilica and later spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte.

The prince also took time to reflect during the service, reading from a booklet that included an English translation of the order of service.

This historic moment mirrors a precedent set by King Charles himself, who represented Queen Elizabeth II at the funeral of Pope John Paul II in 2005.

Kensington Palace later shared footage of the service on its official social media,captioned: "Today we remember and celebrate the life of Pope Francis."