A Vatican insider has defended Prince William's blue suit after the future King received fierce criticism.
Prince William attended Pope Francis's funeral in Rome on Saturday, representing his father, King Charles.
The Prince of Wales faced criticism on social media for wearing a navy blue suit with a white shirt, black tie and black dress shoes.
The ceremony, held in St Peter's Square on April 26, drew numerous dignitaries and heads of state from around the world.
Vatican insider defends Prince William's blue suit after fierce criticism
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William's choice of attire became a talking point, with some questioning why he didn't opt for the more traditional black for the solemn occasion.
However, the Vatican does not list an official funeral dress code on its website.
A Vatican source told People: "Attendees wore what they considered to be appropriate attire for such a solemn occasion."
The insider clarified that attire for the ceremony was left up to the individual, with attendees only expected to wear "appropriate attire" for the service.
Prince William wore a navy suit at the Pope's funeral
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This suggests that William's choice of navy rather than black was not a breach of protocol.
Prince William wasn't alone in his choice of blue attire at the funeral. US President Donald Trump also wore a blue suit to the ceremony, drawing similar criticism online.
Jordan's King Abdullah and Indian President Draupadi Murmu likewise opted for blue ensembles rather than traditional black.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, though dressed in black, also had his clothing choices scrutinised on social media for not wearing a traditional suit.
Prince William was not the only person to wear blue at the Pope's funeral
Reuters
The variety of attire among world leaders highlighted the absence of strict dress requirements for the papal funeral.
The blue suit and black tie combination worn by Prince William at the Pope's funeral is not unprecedented for the royal.
He wore a similar ensemble for the funeral of Manchester United legend Sir Bobby Charlton in November 2023.
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Donald Trump wore a blue suit at Pope Francis's funeral
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For his grandmother Queen Elizabeth's funeral in September 2022, William wore his dress military uniform.
Interestingly, his eldest son, Prince George, attended the Queen's funeral in a navy suit with a white shirt and black tie.
This outfit closely resembled what William chose to wear to mourn Pope Francis.
