Prince Edward Represents the British Royals at Funeral of U.S. President Jimmy Carter

Mar. 15, 2025

Prince Edward attends the state funeral for former U.S. President Jimmy Carter in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 9, 2025.Photo:Chip Somodevilla/Getty

Chip Somodevilla/Getty

Prince Edwardis representing the royal family at the funeral of U.S. PresidentJimmy Carterin Washington, D.C.On Jan. 9, the Duke of Edinburgh, 60, stepped out in the U.S. capital city to pay respects to the nation’s 39th president, whodied on Dec. 29 at 100 years old. Prince Edward sat beside Prime MinisterJustin Trudeauof Canada, a Commonwealth country and crown realm, for the solemn service.Fan footage shared toXshowed that the Duke had also paid respects as the late president’s casket lay in state in the U.S. Capitol rotunda.Carter’s service is taking place at D.C.’s Washington National Cathedral, the culmination of a six-day state funeral that began on Jan. 4 as a motorcade made its way through Carter’s hometown of Plains, Georgia.He laid in repose in Atlanta at the Carter Presidential Center until Jan. 7, when he was flown to D.C. to lie in state at the U.S. Capitol before his funeral on Thursday. All five living presidents —Bill Clinton,George W. Bush,Barack Obama,Donald TrumpandJoe Biden— were in attendance.Prince Edward, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, President-elect Donald Trump and former first lady Melania Trump the state funeral for former U.S. President Jimmy Carter in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 9, 2025.MANDEL NGAN/AFP via GettyAfter the funeral, Carter will then be buried next to his wife,Rosalynn Carter, during a private service in Plains.Prince Edward’s wifeSophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, didn’t accompany her husband for the trip, which was made on behalf ofKing Charles, Edward’s older brother.On Dec. 29, the King, 76, paid tribute to Carter, who was both the longest-living U.S. president and a Nobel Peace Prize winner.Prince Edward, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden at the state funeral for former U.S. President Jimmy Carter in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 9, 2025.MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty"It was with great sadness that I learned of the death of President Carter,” King Charleswrote Dec. 29. “He was a committed public servant, and devoted his life to promoting peace and human rights. His dedication and humility served as an inspiration to many, and I remember with great fondness his visit to the United Kingdom in 1977.”“My thoughts and prayers are with President Carter’s family and the American people at this time,” the King added. The message concluded with “Charles R.,” indicating that the message came from the monarch himself.Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter smiles during a book signing event for his new book ‘Faith: A Journey For All’ at Barnes & Noble bookstore in Midtown Manhattan, March 26, 2018 in New York City.Drew Angerer/GettyCan’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage?Sign up for our free Royals newsletterto get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!King Charles and Jimmy Carter met only once — at the G7 Summit in London in 1977, early in Carter’s presidency. When Carter turned 100 years old on Oct. 1, PEOPLE understands that the King “expressed warm personal greetings and great admiration” for Carter’s lifetime of duty and public service, according to a spokesperson for the monarch.In a private message, the King congratulated Carter on becoming the first former president to become a centenarian.

Prince Edwardis representing the royal family at the funeral of U.S. PresidentJimmy Carterin Washington, D.C.

On Jan. 9, the Duke of Edinburgh, 60, stepped out in the U.S. capital city to pay respects to the nation’s 39th president, whodied on Dec. 29 at 100 years old. Prince Edward sat beside Prime MinisterJustin Trudeauof Canada, a Commonwealth country and crown realm, for the solemn service.

Fan footage shared toXshowed that the Duke had also paid respects as the late president’s casket lay in state in the U.S. Capitol rotunda.

Carter’s service is taking place at D.C.’s Washington National Cathedral, the culmination of a six-day state funeral that began on Jan. 4 as a motorcade made its way through Carter’s hometown of Plains, Georgia.

He laid in repose in Atlanta at the Carter Presidential Center until Jan. 7, when he was flown to D.C. to lie in state at the U.S. Capitol before his funeral on Thursday. All five living presidents —Bill Clinton,George W. Bush,Barack Obama,Donald TrumpandJoe Biden— were in attendance.

Prince Edward, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, President-elect Donald Trump and former first lady Melania Trump the state funeral for former U.S. President Jimmy Carter in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 9, 2025.MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty

MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty

After the funeral, Carter will then be buried next to his wife,Rosalynn Carter, during a private service in Plains.

Prince Edward’s wifeSophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, didn’t accompany her husband for the trip, which was made on behalf ofKing Charles, Edward’s older brother.

On Dec. 29, the King, 76, paid tribute to Carter, who was both the longest-living U.S. president and a Nobel Peace Prize winner.

Prince Edward, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden at the state funeral for former U.S. President Jimmy Carter in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 9, 2025.MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty

“It was with great sadness that I learned of the death of President Carter,” King Charleswrote Dec. 29. “He was a committed public servant, and devoted his life to promoting peace and human rights. His dedication and humility served as an inspiration to many, and I remember with great fondness his visit to the United Kingdom in 1977.”

“My thoughts and prayers are with President Carter’s family and the American people at this time,” the King added. The message concluded with “Charles R.,” indicating that the message came from the monarch himself.

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter smiles during a book signing event for his new book ‘Faith: A Journey For All’ at Barnes & Noble bookstore in Midtown Manhattan, March 26, 2018 in New York City.Drew Angerer/Getty

Drew Angerer/Getty

Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage?Sign up for our free Royals newsletterto get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

King Charles and Jimmy Carter met only once — at the G7 Summit in London in 1977, early in Carter’s presidency. When Carter turned 100 years old on Oct. 1, PEOPLE understands that the King “expressed warm personal greetings and great admiration” for Carter’s lifetime of duty and public service, according to a spokesperson for the monarch.

In a private message, the King congratulated Carter on becoming the first former president to become a centenarian.

source: people.com