Prince Edward set to leave UK for royal duty without Duchess Sophie

Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, will travel to Rome to attend the inauguration of of Pope Leo XIV.

Leo XIV’s will be formally installed as Pope at a mass in St Peter’s Square on Sunday.

Duchess Sophie, the wife of Prince Edward, will not accompany him to the inauguration of the new pope.

World leaders will gather for the ceremony on May 18, which will mark the official start of the Pope’s term.

According to the royal family, King Charles sent a private message to the Pope last Friday, congratulating him on his election.

The Palace said that the king sent “most sincere good wishes for his Pontificate” on behalf of both himself and the Queen.

Earlier, Prince William, the heir to the throne, was sent to attend the funeral of Pope Francis to represent King Charles on April 26, 2025.

In 2013, the Duke of Gloucester attended Pope Francis’s inauguration on behalf of Elizabeth II.