Prince William and Keir Starmer pay respects at Pope's funeral in St. Peter's Square

Prince William, representing King Charles III, and UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer were among the dignitaries who paid their respects to Pope Francis during his funeral at St. Peter's Square, Vatican.

The prince, attired with a dark blue suit and a black tie, bowed his head ahead of the funeral mass before entering St Peter's Basilica and be guided to his sit.

ALSO SEE: Trump and Zelensky meet inside Vatican for key peace talks before Pope Francis' funeral

Key conversations before the Pope Francis’ funeral service

Ahead of the funeral, Sir Keir Starmer was seen engaging in meaningful conversations with high-profile figures such as US President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and French President Emmanuel Macron.

However, Zelensky and Trump had their own 15-minute private conversation focused on ongoing peace talks, where at the end, Zelensky showed optimism in social media.

ALSO SEE: Why are popes buried in 3 coffins? And Why did Pope Francis reject this tradition?

Prince William's first representation for King Charles III

Pope Francis' funeral marks the first time Prince William has represented his father, King Charles III, at an international event; just as his father did when Queen Elizabeth II was not able to attend Pope John Paul II's funeral.

The funeral saw an impressive turnout, with over 55 heads of state, 14 heads of government, and 12 monarchs in attendance. The Vatican estimated that approximately 250,000 mourners gathered in St. Peter's Square and surrounding areas to say goodbye to Pope Francis.