Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, represented the British Royal Family at the funeral of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter in Washington, D.C. on January 9, 2025. The 60-year-old Duke attended the service at the Washington National Cathedral to pay his respects to the 39th president, who passed away on December 29, 2024, at the age of 100. Prince Edward sat alongside Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during the somber ceremony.
Footage shared on social media showed Prince Edward paying his respects earlier as President Carter’s casket lay in state in the U.S. Capitol rotunda. The funeral was the culmination of a six-day state funeral that began on January 4th in Carter’s hometown of Plains, Georgia.
Following a period of lying in repose in Atlanta at the Carter Presidential Center, the former president’s remains were flown to Washington D.C. to lie in state at the U.S. Capitol. All five living former U.S. presidents – Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden – attended the funeral service.
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After the funeral service, a private burial service was held for President Carter in Plains, Georgia, where he was laid to rest beside his wife, Rosalynn Carter. Prince Edward’s wife, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, did not accompany him on the trip, which he undertook on behalf of his older brother, King Charles III.
King Charles released a statement on December 29, 2024, paying tribute to President Carter, recognizing him as both the longest-living U.S. president and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate. The King expressed “great sadness” upon learning of Carter’s death and praised his commitment to peace and human rights.
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In his statement, King Charles recalled fondly Carter’s visit to the United Kingdom in 1977 and offered condolences to the Carter family and the American people. The King signed the message “Charles R.,” signifying it was a personal message from the monarch.
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King Charles and President Carter met only once, during the 1977 G7 Summit in London. On Carter’s 100th birthday, King Charles conveyed a private message expressing warm greetings and admiration for Carter’s lifetime of service. In the message, the King congratulated Carter on becoming the first former U.S. president to reach the age of 100.
