Page 4 | Prince William not in black at Pope's funeral

Yellowdresses · 2025-04-26T18:58:26+00:00

I think William made a big mistake in not wearing a black suit to the Pope's funeral. I think it was a sign of disrespect, particularly as he's going to head of the Church of England. I know the invite said dark suits for men, but everyone else - except Trump of course! - knew that black was expected, and it's not as if he doesn't have a black suit.

Calliopespa · 27/04/2025 00:20

smilesy · 26/04/2025 20:11

President Zelensky was in black, but he wasn’t wearing a suit and tie. Do you have a problem with that too?

I think we all feel poor Zelensky has had enough grief for his attire of late. It’s a blind eye from me …

mathanxiety · 27/04/2025 00:22

Tryingtokeepgoing · 27/04/2025 00:14

He really didn’t stick out at all, because he was appropriately dressed. He wore a navy suit to his mothers funeral after all, and I think that the Royal Family has a better grasp of international head of state funeral etiquette than you do.😂

Donald Trumps suit was not navy by the way, and so he was not appropriately dressed.

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I don't think the RF got it right this time, and fwiw, wearing navy to your own mother/ head of state's funeral in your own home country is rather different from attending the funeral of a foreign head of state who is not related to you at all, in that head of state's state, where the sartorial expectations differ in significant ways from those of your own even in normal times when visiting that head of state.

Espressosummer · 27/04/2025 00:22

Yellowdresses · 26/04/2025 23:42

This was the very formal funeral of the Pope, everyone else understood to wear black. As PPs have said, black is expected at a formal Catholic funeral. I wore black to my grandparents and parents funerals.

I'm Catholic, like millions of people living in the UK, and Prince William was representing the people of the UK. Catholics get to feel let down by his failure to wear black.

The 'get over yourself' and smirking emojis are so inappropriate.

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But black wasn't the stated dress code, it was dark suit/black tie. There were also quite a few men there in a dark blue suit. Do you not think the people who sent out the invite know a bit more about the required dress code than you do? Catholics do not get to feel let down by Prince William following the dress code for the Pope's funeral to the letter. And I doubt anyone who is truly Catholic and in mourning for the Pope actually gives a damn about PW's suit.

Reetpetitenot · 27/04/2025 00:22

'The preferance of Catholics should have been taken into account as it was the funeral of the Pope, and as I said above, William was there representing the people of the UK, which includes millions of Catholics'

And, as requested, by, you know, the Vatican organisers of the Pope's funeral, who I'm guessing have a teensy bit of knowledge regarding papal funerals, he wore a dark suit. I'm sure, if he'd been asked to wear black, he would have done so. But he wasn't. And he was far from the only person there who didn't wear black. Including other royal mourners.

You're making yourself look a bit daft now.

Reetpetitenot · 27/04/2025 00:23

X-post with Espressosummer!

mathanxiety · 27/04/2025 00:25

Elliania · 27/04/2025 00:17

Here is the specified attire, from the Vatican, for the funeral of the Pope.

"According to the well-known Italian national newspaper Il Messaggero, Vatican protocol dictates the following dress and order for Pope Francis' burial.
"For men, dark suit with a long black tie and a button of the same color on the left lapel of the jacket, where only Vatican honors can be placed. For women, a black dress, preferably long, of the same color as gloves and veil on the head, with the only allowed ornament being a string of pearls.
“These are the prescriptions for those attending the Pope's funeral, according to well-established protocol manuals that also define the seating arrangement for dignitaries and heads of state.”"

It states DARK suit, not BLACK suit. Prince William wore a dark blue suit and a black tie thus adhering to the dress code. In theory Trump broke the dress code by not wearing a dark suit or a black tie.

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But everyone else, with a few glaring and offensive exceptions, managed to read between the lines, so it's very strange that William or his advisors got it wrong.

Calliopespa · 27/04/2025 00:25

Topseyt123 · 26/04/2025 23:00

What a totally ridiculous thing to get het up over.

There were plenty of people there in dark blue suits. Perfectly respectful and fine. Don't talk bollocks.

DH wore a blue suit to my Dad's funeral. Should I have flung him out of the crematorium?

Most funerals I have been to the men were in dark navy.

Tryingtokeepgoing · 27/04/2025 00:26

Yellowdresses · 27/04/2025 00:15

The preferance of Catholics should have been taken into account as it was the funeral of the Pope, and as I said above, William was there representing the people of the UK, which includes millions of Catholics. I don't expect people of other religions to particularly care, but I'm surprised people think it's OK to abuse someone who does care.

It's relevant that William is the heir to the head of the Church of England as to me that means he should have been particularly respectful - King Charles and Pope Francis have both done a lot of work to improve relations between the two Churches, to not wear black makes it seem that William wasn't bothered to follow etiquette for this event, and following the right etiquette at State events is what I expect from the Royal family.

This has been covered internationally in the media, the stories focus on Trump but mentioning that Prince Willian didn't wear black either, I don't think I'm a crazy/sad Catholic for bringing this up.

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The preference of catholics was taken into account. It’s only your personal preference for black, contrary to the dress code, convention and protocol, that wasn’t.

TheAutumnCrow · 27/04/2025 00:27

mathanxiety · 27/04/2025 00:25

But everyone else, with a few glaring and offensive exceptions, managed to read between the lines, so it's very strange that William or his advisors got it wrong.

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Are you really saying the President of India was a glaring and offensive exception?

Reetpetitenot · 27/04/2025 00:28

mathanxiety · 27/04/2025 00:25

But everyone else, with a few glaring and offensive exceptions, managed to read between the lines, so it's very strange that William or his advisors got it wrong.

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Read between the lines? The request wS pretty specific. If they'd wanted men to wear black, they'd have said so - they managed to request women wear black. It's so obvious that the denigrators are looking for an excuse to have a bash at William but all you're succeeding in doing is making yourselves look a bit silly.

Bringbackspring · 27/04/2025 00:30

How bored are you? Honestly why do you even care about this? You don't know them. They don't know you. I'm anti monarchy but even I can apprecaite PW has had enough to worry about this past year. Get a grip of yourself.

PodgePie · 27/04/2025 00:32

You’re clearly gunning for Wills for some unknown reason - dark navy is perfectly respectable. And yes, I do know him & he would never wear anything that would be inadvertently disrespectful.

Fredshred · 27/04/2025 00:32

foreverblowingbubbless · 26/04/2025 20:47

Everyone else did not wear black suits. Look at the crowd.

I quite agree. Unless we’re colour blind and he’s really standing out in his tropical colours…

notacooldad · 27/04/2025 00:34

I am really struggling to see how a dark navy suit is disrespectful.
He is smartly dressed in a dark coloured suit. Why is it so offensive?
He is there to pay his respects and is doing that.

Vitrolinsanity · 27/04/2025 00:35

I’m Catholic and didn’t feel let down. I love a navy black suit. So much snappier than black black where one might be mistaken for a maitre’d.

i though Melania looked smashing and clearly very moved. Very classy.

DreamTheMoors · 27/04/2025 00:35

smilesy · 26/04/2025 20:11

President Zelensky was in black, but he wasn’t wearing a suit and tie. Do you have a problem with that too?

No.
Because President Zelenskyy and the country he leads are at war.
And as long as they are, Zelenskyy will remain in that type of attire..
That’s a well known fact - he’s repeated it multiple times and it’s been reported in the media.

BobbyBiscuits · 27/04/2025 00:36

foreverblowingbubbless · 26/04/2025 20:47

Everyone else did not wear black suits. Look at the crowd.

There's at least two others in dark blue.
Next thing they're going to complain that those two in the top left corner came wearing KKK costumes?! 🙃🤣

Tryingtokeepgoing · 27/04/2025 00:36

mathanxiety · 27/04/2025 00:25

But everyone else, with a few glaring and offensive exceptions, managed to read between the lines, so it's very strange that William or his advisors got it wrong.

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It’s far more likely that you are wrong and William and his advisors are right if you ask me! I don’t think the late Pope or William are that bothered by your faux outrage.

I’m not religious, but I can see that the biggest take away from Pope Francis life and funeral is not the colour of suits that people wore to his funeral! Surely a good catholic would be reflecting on his life, the service, and the message and meaning conveyed in the service? Perhaps also reflect on his requests for the funeral such as the inclusion of the homeless, and ask yourself if a navy suit is the biggest thing you’ll take from it ;)

shuggles · 27/04/2025 00:37

Mumsnetters: It's disgusting how much the media scrutinises people's appearances.

Also Mumsnetters: Prince William wore a very very dark navy suit to the Pope's funeral. That's disgusting because he should not have worn a very very dark navy suit. He should have worn a very very dark black suit instead.

Calliopespa · 27/04/2025 00:39

DreamTheMoors · 27/04/2025 00:35

No.
Because President Zelenskyy and the country he leads are at war.
And as long as they are, Zelenskyy will remain in that type of attire..
That’s a well known fact - he’s repeated it multiple times and it’s been reported in the media.

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And when he is no longer at war, he has promised Vance he will wear “ something like you - maybe something better!” I thought that comeback was hilarious!

Original poster

Yellowdresses · 27/04/2025 00:43

The dress code said dark suits, but convention and protocol is for black suits. All the other men in suits - with the exemption of Trump, the King of Jordan and Trump (according to the New York Times) - wore black. Saying 'But the dress code said dark suits' isn't a gotcha, William got it wrong

UK Catholics do have a right to feel let down, even though PPs are telling me that I'm being ridiculous, and some are still cracking jokes about it.

OP posts:

Odras · 27/04/2025 00:45

What a bizarre observation. Not religious now but was brought up very catholic and Irish and frankly against the monarchy and I still he was totally fine. Nothing to see here.

DreamTheMoors · 27/04/2025 00:45

Calliopespa · 27/04/2025 00:39

And when he is no longer at war, he has promised Vance he will wear “ something like you - maybe something better!” I thought that comeback was hilarious!

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Vance is a jackass.
And yeah that was funny.
They thought they made a fool of him in the Oval.
The one thing the Oval Office is missing is a gigantic gilded gold mirror.
Only 1300+ days left of this nightmare…

Elliania · 27/04/2025 00:46

Yellowdresses · 27/04/2025 00:43

The dress code said dark suits, but convention and protocol is for black suits. All the other men in suits - with the exemption of Trump, the King of Jordan and Trump (according to the New York Times) - wore black. Saying 'But the dress code said dark suits' isn't a gotcha, William got it wrong

UK Catholics do have a right to feel let down, even though PPs are telling me that I'm being ridiculous, and some are still cracking jokes about it.

If the Vatican wanted the male attendees to wear black suits they would have specified black suits I would suggest that rather than aime your disappointment at those who followed the dress coade, you direct it at THE VATICAN who wrote said dress code.

Calliopespa · 27/04/2025 00:46

If I’m completely honest, some of the men in black looked a bit like gangsters to me. Either that or as though they were going to a black tie evening event - especially the ones with a slight sheen.

BUT I don’t think that mattered. What mattered was more that I saw not one person who didn’t look as though they had made a respectful effort according to the custom of their background ( and quite honestly on that front I’m more used to very dark navy for men.) It was a lovely day where people came together from many parts of the world to honour the life of a man who championed peace snd acceptance. Can we not just have a day where that can be the important thing, rather than looking to nitpick and judge?