Prince William is expected to sit just one row ahead of Donald Trump at the funeral of Pope Francis. Despite having once been the President of the United States, Trump might find himself sitting in the third row, while Prince William will be placed in the second. This arrangement follows long-standing Vatican traditions, which prioritize royal families—especially Catholic monarchs—over political leaders.
Trump, who is used to receiving VIP treatment, may not get the front-row seat he’s accustomed to. At major Catholic events like this, the Vatican sticks to strict traditions when organizing where guests sit. That means Catholic royals are seated first, followed by non-Catholic royals, and then heads of state and other dignitaries.
More than 130 countries will be represented at the funeral, which is set to take place at St Peter’s Basilica. Around 50 world leaders and 10 monarchs are expected to attend. According to past protocol, Catholic kings and queens will sit in the front row. This includes King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium, Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg, Prince Albert and Princess Charlene of Monaco, and Prince Alois and Princess Sophie of Liechtenstein.
Non-Catholic royals like Prince William, Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway, King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden, and Queen Mary of Denmark will be seated in the second row. Donald Trump, and other world leaders, are likely to be seated behind them in the third row or further back.
Even though the official seating list hasn’t been made public, this arrangement is in line with how things were done during Pope John Paul II’s funeral in 2005. At that time, royalty and church leaders were given front seats, while political figures sat further back.
This setup shows how seriously the Vatican takes tradition, giving priority to royal status, particularly Catholic royals, over political titles. While some might see this as a snub to Trump, it’s really just the Vatican following its long-established rules.
On one side of the church, international leaders will be seated together. On the other, senior members of the Catholic Church—archbishops, bishops, patriarchs, and cardinals dressed in their red robes—will be seated.
This funeral isn’t just a religious event. It’s also a major diplomatic occasion, drawing top leaders from all over the world. The arrangement is less about favoritism and more about centuries-old customs that shape how these events are handled.
