![\"pope](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/pope-leo-final-1747037735957.jpg\")
Source: Getty Images| Jordan Pettitt – WPA Pool; (Inset) Vatican Media via Vatican Pool <\/p>\n
King Charles and Prince William during a Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey on the 80th anniversary of VE Day; (Inset) Pope Leo XIV addresses the crowd on the main central loggia balcony. <\/p>\n
May 12 2025, Published 8:59 a.m. ET<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n King Charles and Prince William carry out most royal duties as Head of State <\/a>and heir to the throne, respectively. However, neither the King nor the Prince of Wales will attend the inauguration of the newly elected Pope Leo XVI. Instead, Buckingham Palace announced that Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, will represent the Crown at the inauguration ceremony of the new pontiff.<\/p>\n Article continues below advertisement<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Edward will travel to the Vatican to attend Pope Leo XIV\u2019s formal installation at St. Peter\u2019s Square on May 18, as reported by Hello! magazine.<\/a> While the Palace has not given a reason why Edward is stepping in, Marie Claire<\/a> reports that, as Charles and William have recently traveled to the Vatican, it made sense that Edward handled the important responsibility this time.<\/p>\n Article continues below advertisement<\/p>\n<\/p>\n As per The Independent<\/a>, Edward and his wife, Sophie, were a part of Charles\u2019s \u2018slimmed-down\u2019 working monarchy, introduced after Queen Elizabeth II\u2019s passing in 2022. Since Charles was diagnosed with cancer in 2024, the Duke of Edinburgh has taken on major royal duties on the monarch’s behalf. On May 9, the royal family\u2019s official social media handle praised Edward for hosting the Gold Awards inside Buckingham Palace. Most notably, the Duke also attended US President Jimmy Carter\u2019s funeral on 9 January, on behalf of William. As per reports, William avoids traveling abroad unless it is for an initiative he is personally involved in, as his wife recovers from cancer. Palace insiders claimed that William was also not ‘keen on going’ to Carter’s funeral and had Edward sent instead. <\/p>\n Article continues below advertisement<\/p>\n After Charles’s cancer diagnosis, former royal butler Grant Harrold has also echoed Edward\u2019s importance within the royal household. <\/a>As reported by the Daily Express, <\/a>he revealed that with the King\u2019s ill health, the monarch is beginning to think realistically about what\u2019s next. He shared that this is exactly where the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh step in. He added, \u201cShe has always been very close to him and to Queen Elizabeth as well. Both Sophie and Edward have long had strong ties within the family, and the late Queen was reportedly keen for Sophie to take on a more prominent role in royal life.\u201d The butler claimed that the workload for Edward and Duchess Sophie has grown even more challenging, given Prince Andrew and the Sussexes’ exit from the Firm.<\/p>\n Article continues below advertisement<\/p>\n<\/p>\n