Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, was pictured standing alongside the body of Pope Francis during the rite of the declaration of death in Santa Marta residence.

The Argentine pontiff died on Monday morning from a stroke, aged 88.

His passing came less than a month after he was admitted from hospital following a five-week battle with double pneumonia.

The Prince of Wales is currently on a short break from royal duties to spend time with his wife and three children during their Easter half-term school break.

The pontiff addressed crowds in St Peter’s Square during Easter celebrations on Sunday.

The Pope spent the afternoon resting in his Vatican residence, Casa Santa Marta, and had a peaceful dinner, Vatican News reported.

King Charles, who will not travel to attend the funeral, issued a statement regarding Francis’s death, just weeks after their historic meeting with the pontiff during a private audience in Italy.

His Majesty travelled to Rome earlier this month for a highly symbolic visit to the Vatican, where he had a surprise meeting with the Pope alongside Queen Camilla.

In his message, he wrote:“My wife and I were most deeply saddened to learn of the death of Pope Francis.

“Our heavy hearts have been somewhat eased, however, to know that His Holiness was able to share an Easter Greeting with the Church and the world he served with such devotion throughout his life and ministry.”

The Prince and Princess of Wales were not present at the Royal Family’s traditional Easter gathering at Windsor Castle on Saturday, instead opting to spend the Easter weekend with their children at their country home in Norfolk.

Prince William is set to visit Mentivity, an organisation dedicated to empowering young people through access to quality youth services and safe spaces, on April 24, just days before the funeral.