The Duke of Gloucester will represent the Queen, his cousin, at Pope Francis's inaugural Mass.
The Queen, head of the Church of England, has never attended the event but is usually represented, although this has happened only in recent years.
In 2005 the Duke of Edinburgh represented the Queen at Pope Benedict XVI's inaugural Mass, while the Prince of Wales represented his mother at the funeral of Pope John Paul II.
The Duke of Gloucester, who will be accompanied by his wife the Duchess of Gloucester, attended the beatification of Pope John-Paul in 2011 and was in Rome to celebrate the teaching and history of the British Pontifical Colleges last year.
The Queen, head of the Church of England, has never attended the event but is usually represented, although this has happened only in recent years.
In 2005 the Duke of Edinburgh represented the Queen at Pope Benedict XVI's inaugural Mass, while the Prince of Wales represented his mother at the funeral of Pope John Paul II.
The Duke of Gloucester, who will be accompanied by his wife the Duchess of Gloucester, attended the beatification of Pope John-Paul in 2011 and was in Rome to celebrate the teaching and history of the British Pontifical Colleges last year.
