Prince William is “right up there with the big boys” as he readies to become king, according to an esteemed royal author.
The heir to the throne, 42, was every inch the statesman as he represented his father, King Charles, and his country at the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome on Saturday.
“William did extremely well at [the reopening of] Notre Dame, leading the British contingent. And in Rome he joined Trump and Macron and Zelensky, so he’s right up there with the big boys, as it were,” Hugo Vickers told Page Six.
Although it is palace protocol for the child of the British monarch to attend a pontiff’s farewell, royal observers were quick to pick up on the fact that William is quite obviously being groomed for his future role.
“It’s natural we would see this happen,” said Vickers, also a friend of the royal family. “Is he ready? Is anyone ever ready? He’s got a lot on his plate. His wife is not perfectly well, as we know, and I feel very anxious for him — he has small children and all the things he has to do as the Prince of Wales.
“It’s always the problem – their heir never knows when they are going to become King, but obviously as William’s father is unwell it focuses on that. But [William is] as prepared as he will be,” Vickers added. “It looks as though he can cope — which is good because he’ll need to when the time comes.”
King Charles has been open about his battle with cancer since the public announcement in February 2024. He’s admitted the treatment has at times been depleting, forcing him to cancel official appointments after being briefly hospitalized in March. But he is believed to be on an even keel, according to palace insiders.
“Charles looked fantastically well on Easter Day, and he’s doing his best,” said Vickers.
The monarch was, however, able to say farewell to Frances, who died at age 88 after a stroke on April 21.
Charles, 76, and Queen Camilla made a visit to the Vatican just 12 days before the pope’s death, during their state visit to Italy.
A senior palace official said after the private visit: “Their Majesties both came away feeling that it had been a very significant and special moment.”
While William never met Pope Francis, Charles did on three previous occasions, and the pair are said to have had huge respect for one another.
In a statement, Charles said he and his wife were “most deeply saddened” by the pope’s death.
In 2005, Charles postponed his wedding to Camilla Parker Bowles to attend the funeral of Pope John Paul II. The wedding, originally planned for April 8, was moved to April 9 to allow the then-Prince of Wales to represent his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, at the funeral.
Elizabeth II never attended the funeral of a pontiff, as British monarchs serve as Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England.
Talking about William’s future as king, Vickers said, “It’s an interesting thing. When the time comes, he will almost become a different person. As Charles has acquired a kind of new gravitas as King.
“Every generation does things differently. People are telling me that William will do things in one way or another, but he probably doesn’t know himself. Although I’m sure he’s got all sorts of ideas about how he may wish to run things.
William and his wife Kate Middleton, 43, spent their 14th wedding anniversary on the Isle of Mull in Scotland on Tuesday. Middleton, who has said she has finished her own cancer treatment, debuted a new, lighter hair color.
William, who has been estranged from his younger brother Prince Harry for the past few years, stepped in for his father last summer to host garden parties at Buckingham Palace, with help from his cousins.
As Page Six has exclusively reported, British Foreign Office officials also hope William and Kate will jet over for America’s 250th anniversary celebrations next year.
“I get annoyed when William is accused of not doing enough,” said Vickers.
“I have enormous sympathy for him. He said that last year was the worst of his life and when you think about it, that’s a hell of a statement thinking back got the year when he lost his mother.”
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