Prince William Missed Key ‘Opportunity’ by Skipping Jimmy Carter Funeral

Prince William’s decision to swerve Jimmy Carter’s funeral means he has turned his back on a major “global stage,” a royal author told Newsweek.

The Prince of Wales spent Thursday marking Princess Kate’s 43rd birthday, paying a heartfelt tribute to her “strength” in a post on X.

Prince Edward—who is 14th in the line of succession—flew to America to pay the royal family’s respects to Carter in D.C., where he has been lying in state at the Capitol building.

Ingrid Seward, author of the bestselling book My Mother and I, about King Charles III and Queen Elizabeth II, told Newsweek: “Of course Americans would have preferred William but on the other hand I think Edward was 13 when Jimmy Carter was president. It’s possible that Edward did meet him.

“Yes America would prefer William but I think it was quite carefully considered and decided that Edward would be the right person to go.”

“Kate wouldn’t have let her birthday encroach on it,” Seward continued. “If William was meant to be going she would have said you’ve got to go.”

Carter visited Britain in 1977, the first year of his term as president, and attended a state banquet at Buckingham Palace as a guest of Queen Elizabeth II.

It is not clear whether Elizabeth found a quiet moment for him to meet Edward, but it is not uncommon for royal children to greet world leaders. Prince George, for example, met former President Barack Obama a few months before the future king’s third birthday in 2016.

William certainly has more name recognition in America than his uncle Edward and attending the funeral would have given him an opportunity to build on his growing status a global statesman.

The prince clearly relished the opportunity to take on a key diplomatic mission when he was dispatched to meet President-elect Donald Trump at the re-opening of Notre Dame Cathedral in December.

“It would have been a good opportunity for William to go,” Seward said. “He probably has missed a trick. You can’t get a bigger global stage than Jimmy Carter’s funeral today, especially with everything that’s happening in California.”

Outgoing President Joe Biden was among those due to give a speech at the funeral before Carter’s remains are flown to Georgia on board Special Air Mission 39.

Jack Royston is chief royal correspondent for Newsweek, based in London. You can find him on X, formerly Twitter, at @jack_royston and read his stories on Newsweek‘s The Royals Facebook page.

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