Prince William’s outfit at Pope Francis’s funeral drew attention, though not exactly for the right reasons.
The 42-year-old Prince of Wales attended the funeral on Saturday alongside other world leaders, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Donald Trump, and Emmanuel Macron. King Charles was notably absent.
However, not everyone was pleased with William’s choice of attire.
Instead of the traditional black, the father-of-three chose a blue suit for the occasion, something considered unusual for a formal event like this.
He wasn’t alone, though—Donald Trump also wore a blue suit, pairing it with a blue tie. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy opted for black military gear rather than formalwear.
“Prince William looked odd with a blue suit and black tie,” one social media user remarked. “Trump completely ignored the black tie instructions.”
Another X user questioned, “What was Prince William thinking about by not wearing a black suit, too? If there’s one thing you’d think the Royals would be red hot on is correct protocol. All he had to do was turn up & look the part. He dropped the ball today.”
“Black tie with a blue suit?” another baffled viewer wrote on X.
Despite the criticisms, the official dress code for the service at St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City called for men to wear a dark suit with a black tie and a black button on the left lapel.
Supporters quickly defended William online by pointing back to the official guidelines.
“Kings and Princes commonly wear a dark blue suit and black tie,” one commenter wrote.
Another added, “The Prince of Wales is NOT Catholic. HIS FATHER, the King, is the head of the Church of England. He wears that colour to signify that fact. What is Trump is saying, do you think?”
Trump’s attire also stirred discontent. “Trump did not even have the decency to wear a black tie, and he wore a blue suit,” one user posted. “No respect!!”
Women attending the funeral were required to wear long black dresses, gloves, and a veil.
Pope Francis had requested a much simpler farewell, departing from longstanding traditions. He was buried in a plain wooden coffin lined with zinc, rather than the traditional triple-casket arrangement of cypress, lead, and elm.
After the funeral at the square, Pope Francis’s remains were taken through the streets of Rome—another break from custom—on their way to the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, as he had instructed.
Before his death, Pope Francis outlined his wishes for a modest burial. Rather than his full name, he requested the tomb simply be inscribed with “Franciscus,” a nod to his papal name chosen in honor of St. Francis of Assisi.
In his testament, he wrote: “As I sense the approaching twilight of my earthly life, and with firm hope in eternal life, I wish to set out my final wishes solely regarding the place of my burial.
“… I ask that my tomb be prepared in the burial niche in the side aisle between the Pauline Chapel (Chapel of the Salus Populi Romani) and the Sforza Chapel of the Basilica, as shown in the attached plan.
“The tomb should be in the ground; simple, without particular ornamentation, bearing only the inscription: Franciscus.
“The cost of preparing the burial will be covered by a sum provided by a benefactor, which I have arranged to be transferred to the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major.”