William's 'secret move' that steered Trump and Zelensky's peace talks
It is claimed that Prince William made a subtle diplomatic gesture, allowing Donald Trump to engage in unplanned peace discussions with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky during the Pope's funeral. As world leaders, including the Prince of Wales, gathered in St Peter's Square for the farewell ceremony for Pope Francis, a remarkable encounter took place where Trump and Zelensky had a face-to-face meeting in a secluded part of St Peter's Basilica.
This was their first meeting since a tense confrontation at the White House in late February, and photographs showed them intensely discussing a potential end to the conflict in Ukraine, sparked by Russia's invasion.
Shortly before this hastily arranged meeting, Trump and Zelensky were photographed alongside Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron. It appears that William's discreet decision to step away from the group was instrumental in facilitating this extraordinary meeting.
The Prince of Wales was seen with the Prime Minister paying their respects at Francis' coffin, and as they walked away, they reportedly noticed Trump, Zelensky, and Macron. According to The Telegraph, William "respectfully peeled away" to allow the politicians to converse, demonstrating his ability to "read the room".
There has been speculation about why William, who had never met Pope Francis, attended the funeral while his father, the King, was absent, despite the King having met the Pope just 12 days before his passing during a state visit to Italy. The decision that Prince William should represent the monarch at key events like funerals fits well with modern tradition, reports the Mirror.
For instance, back in 2005, Charles, as the Prince of Wales, did the same for Pope John Paul II's funeral on behalf of his mother - the late Queen Elizabeth II. Kensington Palace noted the choice regarding William's presence at the Pope's funeral was aligned with Government recommendations.
William, donned in a sombre suit, took his place among world leaders but was notably seated in the third row during the ceremony, keeping him apart from European royalty such as King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain, and Queen Mary of Denmark, who scored front-row seats alongside Trump and Melania.
Nonetheless, it seems the international VIP seating chart for Pope Francis's funeral was a finely tuned diplomatic tango, leading to William being placed somewhat further back than some Royal contemporaries.
Priority was given to Argentina due to the Pope hailing from there, with attendance including the outspoken Argentinian President Javier Milei, who had been critical of the Pope before becoming head of state.
Italy followed next in pecking order given the Pope's status as bishop of Rome and head of the Italian Catholic bishops. Next were the reigning sovereigns, arranged "in alphabetical order, but in the French language", then heads of state, followed by heads of government such as the UK Prime Minister, and other official attendees.
French got the nod for the seating arrangements at a high-profile diplomatic event as it's seen as the official language of diplomacy, flipping the expected English-speaking order on its head. This twist meant Trump snagged an upfront seat since America falls under "Etats-Unis d'Amerique,".
Irish President Michael D Higgins trumped both Prince William and the British Government delegates taking a back seat.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, termed the seating agenda a "master plan" crafted to manage the "big egos" among global chiefs.
Before the grand event, Cardinal Nichols revealed to interviewers that the occasion was "without a doubt another masterpiece of stage management when you consider those state leaders who have high opinions of their importance". He went on to say: "In the past, I've seen it here over and over again that the combination of Rome and the Holy See, they actually are geniuses at dealing with these big events."
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