Prince William has been praised for his composure at the funeral of Pope Francis, with royal fans calling it a "perfect king" moment.
The Prince of Wales, 42, represented his father King Charles at the service, which took place in Vatican City on Saturday. William was the only British royal present, joining world leaders and statesmen from across the globe.
Before taking his seat, William paid his respects at the late Pope’s sealed coffin, standing alongside UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
Body language expert shares verdict on Prince William
© GettyBody language expert Judi James has said William’s behaviour during the service showed he would one day make an "ideal king".
Speaking to Express.co.uk, Judi explained: "It is probably the biggest compliment to William to say that he was close to invisible at the Pope's funeral, with his elegant body language looking quietly composed and appropriate while all the global leadership dramas swirled around him."
She added: "Unlike Trump and co, William had only one job which was to pay respects and he executed it perfectly. His height singles him out but his body language was low-key."
A quiet but powerful moment
© Europa Press via Getty ImagesAs William stood beside Sir Keir Starmer at the coffin, Judi noted the small but meaningful gestures the Prince made.
"When he stood with Starmer at the coffin he bowed his head slightly in a moment of reflection and it was his call in terms of ending the pose as he turned out of it first to signal to the Starmers that it was time to move away," she said.
Pope Francis: 5 surprising facts
© Getty Images1. Nightclub bouncer
When Pope Francis was a student, he worked as a nightclub bouncer in Argentina.
2. Real name
Pope Francis' real name is Jorge Mario Bergoglio. He chose the name Francis after Saint Francis of Assis, who was known for his ministry to the poor.
3. Tango dancer
He practised the milonga, an Argentine style of tango, in his youth. As Pope, his love of dance endured, and in 2014, he was honored with a mass tango on the Via della Conciliazione by St. Peter’s Square to mark his 78th birthday.
4. Austere lifestyle
The Pope opted not to live in the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace, instead residing in a Vatican guest house. Compared to his predecessors, he lived a humble lifestyle, even cooking his own meals!
5. Power napper
The secret to mastering the role of Pope was his strict daily routine, including a 45-minute nap after lunch. In a 2017 interview with EWTN Vatican, the late pontiff said: "I go to my room, take off my shoes, and lie down fully dressed. I get up feeling good — with a clear head and reinvigorated, as if it were morning again."
"This ability to be elegantly politely drama-free will help make William the ideal king one day."
Shared traits with Princess Kate
© The RFU Collection via Getty ImaJudi also remarked that William shares this important quality with his wife, Princess Kate, 43.
"It's a quality that he and Kate tend to have perfected," she said. "While they will never be ignored thanks to their stylish good looks, they will share the ability to attend important events like this without making it all about themselves."
Kate did not attend the funeral and is believed to have stayed at their Windsor home with their three children, Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six.
Fans react to Prince William’s appearance
© AFP via Getty ImagesRoyal fans were quick to praise William's dignified conduct during the service.
One user wrote on X, formerly Twitter: "The Prince of Wales attending the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square, Vatican City. His suit and tie is on point and Wills is looking every inch a statesman."
Another fan commented: "Prince William is well thought of and very much loved and admired here in America... He will make an excellent king."
A third said: "Prince William is not even King yet, but is already the face of the British Monarchy. He is front and centre whenever there is a ceremony or a celebration somewhere in the world. And it's only going to get better when Wills actually becomes Monarch."
A glimpse into the future of the monarchy
© AFP via Getty ImagesWilliam's appearance at the funeral comes at a time when the Prince is taking on more duties as heir to the throne.
Since King Charles' cancer diagnosis, the Prince of Wales has stepped up his public engagements, balancing royal responsibilities with his environmental work and his Homewards homelessness campaign.
Royal commentators have noted that William’s performance in major events such as this one offer a clear sign of the monarchy’s future under his leadership.
