Although William was praised, some royal watchers criticized his choice of a blue suit instead of traditional black—similar to former President Donald Trump’s attire.

Prince William criticized for wearing blue suit at Pope Francis’ funeral

Prince William faced backlash online for wearing a navy blue suit instead of black at Pope Francis’ funeral. Many called it disrespectful, questioning why he didn’t follow tradition.

However, experts say blue isn’t necessarily wrong. A Vatican source confirmed there’s no strict dress code and that attendees wore what they felt was appropriate. Some Italian reports mention a preference for dark suits with black ties, but protocol isn’t mandatory.

So while some fans were upset, William didn’t break any official rules.

“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.”

Royals Don’t Always Wear Black to Funerals

Though black is traditional, royal family members have worn blue suits to funerals before. At Sir Bobby Charlton’s funeral in 2023, Prince William wore a blue suit. Similarly, at Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral, both Prince George and William wore navy. This aligns with formal dress protocols, including those for events like the Pope’s funeral. While the Royal Family is tied to the Church of England, Prince William is seen as less religious than past monarchs.

Pope Francis’ funeral – a “wake-up” call for Prince William

Royal historian Alexander Larman told GB News that Prince William may have received a “wake-up call” after attending the Pope’s funeral—despite never publicly showing interest in religion. While King Charles is deeply spiritual, William has stayed quiet on the subject.

“He’s never expressed faith or spoken about religion,” Larman said. “This could be a moment for him to reflect on its importance.”

Some are now also debating Prince William’s outfit—he wore a blue suit instead of black. Was that disrespectful?