Prince William's diplomatic instincts quietly shaped an extraordinary moment at Pope Francis' funeral, where former President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held an impromptu face-to-face discussion about ending the war in Ukraine.
As world leaders gathered at St. Peter's Basilica on April 26 to honor the late pontiff, Trump and Zelensky were pictured engaged in an intense private conversation in a quiet corner of the church. Sources familiar with the situation said Prince William, who was representing King Charles III, discreetly "peeled away" from a nearby gathering, allowing Trump, Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer space to speak.
According to The Telegraph, William "respectfully peeled away" after reading the room and sensing the significance of the unfolding moment. His withdrawal from the group is believed to have paved the way for the leaders' crucial interaction during the Vatican ceremony.
William, 42, attended the funeral in line with British royal tradition, where the heir to the throne represents the monarch at major global events. Kensington Palace said his attendance was based on government advice. King Charles, who had met with Pope Francis during a state visit to Italy just days before the pontiff's death, did not attend.
During the funeral, William, dressed in a dark suit, was seated in the third row among world leaders, positioned behind reigning sovereigns such as King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain and Queen Mary of Denmark. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were seated prominently in the front row, a placement determined by a complex diplomatic seating arrangement managed by Vatican officials.
The Vatican seating plan prioritized Argentina, Pope Francis' home country, followed by Italy, and then reigning monarchs seated alphabetically in French, the diplomatic language of the Holy See. Heads of state and heads of government followed. The decision meant Trump's delegation, listed as "Etats-Unis d'Amerique," received an early placement, while William, categorized as a crown prince, sat farther back.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the leader of Catholics in England and Wales, praised the Vatican's delicate stage management. "It's another masterpiece of stage management when you consider those state leaders who have high opinions of their importance," Nichols said. "The combination of Rome and the Holy See-they actually are geniuses at dealing with these big events."
Trump's brief but significant meeting with Zelensky marked their first direct encounter since a contentious clash in the White House earlier this year. After the Vatican meeting, Trump called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to "stop shooting" and reiterated that the contours of a potential peace deal were "close" but still pending.
