Prince Edward has successfully met the expectations set by his older brother, King Charles III, in representing the British royal family during a high-profile event in the United States.
Last week, the Duke of Edinburgh attended the funeral of former US President Jimmy Carter in Washington, D.C., marking an important moment in the royal family's diplomatic presence on the international stage. President Carter, who passed away on December 29 at the age of 100, was the 39th president of the United States. Prince Edward, in his role as a royal representative, was seen paying respects to the late leader, demonstrating the British monarchy's longstanding relationship with the United States. During the service, the Duke of Edinburgh was seated next to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as Canada is both a Commonwealth country and a realm of the British Crown.
Edward’s attendance at such a significant event did not go unnoticed in the media, especially in the U.S. During a period when former President Donald Trump was preparing to resume office, US publications seized the opportunity to analyze the implications of the Duke’s presence. Vanity Fair published an article with the headline, "Prince Edward represented the royal family at Jimmy Carter's funeral. What does that mean for Trump?" The piece discussed the growing prominence of Prince Edward within the royal family, suggesting that his involvement signified not only his increasing role in royal affairs but also the strategic importance of the British monarchy to diplomatic relations at a potentially delicate moment in world politics.
King Charles, recognizing the diplomatic significance of such events, had previously sent Prince Edward’s wife, Princess Sophie, to represent him at the state funeral of former Italian President Giorgio Napolitano in September 2023. Meanwhile, Edward himself undertook a diplomatic visit to Turkey, where he met with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, further strengthening the monarchy’s global presence.
In the background, some media outlets speculated that these diplomatic decisions were not solely driven by Edward’s personal responsibilities but were also influenced by King Charles and the British government. This came at a time when neither King Charles nor Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, had public health concerns, leaving Edward to step into these significant roles. Some reports even hinted that Prince William, the heir to the throne, might have been criticized for not undertaking these duties himself, with Edward's foreign trips becoming a focal point for discussions about the royal family’s global engagement.
