Prince William’s choice of suit at Pope Francis’s funeral sparked a lot of conversation on social media, with many people finding the colour quite controversial.
The Prince of Wales attended the funeral on Saturday alongside other world leaders, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Donald Trump, and Emmanuel Macron.
Many royal family followers were surprised by William’s decision to wear a blue suit instead of the traditional black typically worn at funerals. He paired it with a black tie, which was the only part of his outfit that adhered to the usual mourning attire.
So, did William break the dress code? The answer might surprise you.
On his regular “Royal Roundup” segment on TalkTV, Rupert Bell discussed William’s outfit.
Bell didn’t seem overly concerned about the blue suit and suggested that it “probably would have been given the green light,” with a smirk, implying that the choice likely gave the future king a “younger feel.”
William wasn’t the only one in blue – US President Donald Trump also surprised people with his blue suit and matching tie. Both of their outfit choices didn’t go unnoticed on social media.
“Prince William looked odd with a blue suit and black tie,” one user said. “Trump completely ignored the black tie instructions.”
“Why didn’t Prince William wear a black suit too?” another user on X complained. “If there’s one thing you’d expect the Royals to get right, it’s following protocol. All he had to do was show up and look the part. He messed up today.”
“Black tie with a blue suit?” another confused viewer wrote on X.
Black is often seen as the color for mourning, particularly at Catholic funerals.
Trump, on the other hand, considers himself a non-denominational Christian, while William follows the Church of England. Additionally, the dress code didn’t state that male attendees had to wear black.
The funeral, which was held at St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City, required men to wear a dark suit with a black tie and a black button on the left lapel.
Fans defended William on social media, pointing out the dress code.
“Kings and Princes commonly wear a dark blue suit and black tie,” one person commented.
“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 saying, do you think?” another remarked.