Princess Charlene is set to “steer clear of bold jewels” as she sits in front of Prince William at Pope Francis’s funeral today, a jewellery expert has exclusively told GB News.
The Princess of Monaco will join her husband, Prince Albert, at the funeral of the pontiff in St Peter’s Basilica in Rome this morning, which will be attended by 50 heads of state and 10 reigning monarchs.
As the Monegasque royals are Catholic, they will be seated on the front row, alongside King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium, Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg, and Prince Alois and Princess Sophie of Liechtenstein.
In contrast, the non-Catholic royals, including Prince William, will be seated on the second row.
Princess Charlene to ‘steer clear of bold jewels’ as she sits in front of Prince William at funeral
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Tobias Kormind, the managing director and co-founder of 77 Diamonds, spoke exclusively to GB News about Princess Charlene’s potential jewellery choices at Pope Francis’s funeral today, which will start at 9am BST.
He said: “Princess Charlene is one of seven Catholic female royals in the world with the ‘privilège du blanc’ or the privilege to wear white in the presence of the Pope.
“But of course, for a solemn occasion such as the funeral of Pope Francis, she will be wearing black.
“We can expect her to dress in a manner similar to what she wore for the funeral of the Archbishop of Monaco last year, with a veil and a black, full-sleeved ensemble.
Pope Francis died at the age of 88, the Vatican confirmed on MondayGetty“For such a moment of grief, she will steer clear of bold or colourful jewels and will opt for minimal jewellery, perhaps choosing discreet pearls, as they represent grief and sorrow and are traditional mourning jewels.”
The Prince of Wales will be joined by other non-Catholic royals in the second row – including Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway, King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden, and finally Queen Mary of Denmark.
Politicians from across the globe, including US President Donald Trump, will be relegated to the third row.
Vatican protocol states that Catholic royals should be given pride of place in the front row at papal funerals.
Charlene at the funeral of Didier Guillaume, former French minister
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Prince William will be sitting in the row in front of Donald Trump
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While the Vatican has not released official details of the seating plan, clues can be gleaned from Pope John Paul II’s funeral in 2005.
Foreign dignitaries will be seated in a large block to one side of Francis’s coffin.
Archbishops, bishops, patriarchs and cardinals – the red-robed “princes of the Church” – will be seated opposite them.
