Not just Trump: Who else wore blue at Pope Francis's funeral and was it against protocol?

US President Donald Trump got brutally trolled online for wearing a blue suit instead of black at Pope Francis's funeral at St. Peter's Square in the Vatican. Netizens called his outfit 'inappropriate' for the solemn occasion and criticised him for standing out awkwardly among a sea of people dressed in traditional mourning attire. Trump wore a blue suit, his trademark American flag lapel pin, and a light blue tie. His wife, First Lady, Melania Trump was dressed in a black dress and black veil in accordance with her Catholic faith.
However, Trump wasn't the only one drawing criticism for his choice of colour. Prince William, Jordan’s King Abdullah, and Indian President Droupadi Murmu also wore blue ensembles at the somber event. Prince William wore a dark blue suit instead of black. America's former President Joe Biden who was seen in a blue tie was also criticized for breaking the protocol.

It turns out, Prince William, Donald Trump, Droupadi Murmu and other attendees who didn't wear the colour black did not go against the protocol. There is no official funeral dress code mentioned on The Vatican website, and it's up to a person to decide what outfit colour they want to choose for the occasion.
"Attendees wore what they considered to be appropriate attire for such a solemn occasion," a Vatican source said.
According to a well-known Italian national newspaper Il Messaggero, Vatican protocol recommends the following dress and order for Pope Francis' burial.

"For men, dark suit with a long black tie and a button of the same color on the left lapel of the jacket, where only Vatican honors can be placed. For women, a black dress, preferably long, of the same color as gloves and veil on the head, with the only allowed ornament being a string of pearls.
“These are the prescriptions for those attending the Pope's funeral, according to well-established protocol manuals that also define the seating arrangement for dignitaries and heads of state.”
While black is the traditional colour in Catholic funerals, Trump and Prince William not being Catholic may have made a different choice. Indian President Droupadi Murmu, who's a Hindu was seen in a blue sari.

Trump also received disapproval for leaving the ceremony as soon as it was over, rather than waiting until after the burial. Trump also got flak for dozing off during the service. As pictures of him with eyes closed surfaced online, users started slamming the US President and called him an "embarrassment to the United States."
Meanwhile, Trump is also making news currently for his tongue-in-cheek remark on who could be the next Pope. "I'd like to be Pope," he said. "That would be my number one choice."
On a serious note, the American President said while he had no particular favourite, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Archbishop of New York, could be "very good" for the role.
South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham took to X to share an unexpected endorsement, urging the papal conclave to consider an unconventional candidate.
"I was excited to hear that President Trump is open to the idea of being the next Pope," he wrote on X. "This would truly be a dark horse candidate, but I would ask the papal conclave and Catholic faithful to keep an open mind about this possibility! The first Pope-US President combination has many upsides. Watching for white smoke. Trump MMXXVIII!"