TThe British royal family was invited to the funeral of Queen Elizabeth 2 in London. Monarchs, royals, and other nobles from across the world—many of them related to Elizabeth II in distant generations—turned out at Westminster Abbey to honor Britain’s longest serving sovereign.
The King Charles III was joined by members of European Royal Houses. These included King Harald V, Grand Duke Henri, Luxembourg, King Willem-Alexander, King Philippe, King Felipe VI, Spain’s King Felipe VI, and King Carl XVI Gustaf, of Sweden.
Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II is a third cousin of Queen Elizabeth II. “Your mother was very important to me and my family,” Queen Margrethe wrote in a letter to King Charles III.
Monaco’s Prince Albert and Charlene II, the Netherlands’ Princess Beatrix (C), King Willem-Alexander, the Netherlands (C), Queen Maxima, the Netherlands (R), and Prince Albert of Monaco (L) will arrive at Westminster Abbey, London, on September 19, 2022 to perform the State Funeral Service for Queen Elizabeth II.
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Juan Carlos I, a former Spanish King was present. He is also a distant relative of Queen Elizabeth II. He is now exiled in Abu Dhabi and has drawn criticism for his appearance. Juan Carlos lost popularity due to financial scandals, and an elephant hunting trip to Africa.
Prince Albert II of Monaco attended, alongside his wife of 11 years, Princess Charlene—who has rarely been seen in public in recent years.
Additionally, members of the royal family from outside Europe were present. They included Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan, Malaysia’s King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah and Queen Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, and Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Queen Rania Al-Abdullah.
Japan’s Emperor Naruhito (center) and Empress Masako, his wife, arrive at Westminster Abbey to attend the funeral and burial ceremony of Queen Elizabeth II on September 19, 2022.
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Queen Rania of Jordan had previously told ITV news, “To me she is the queen of the world…She may be the Queen of England but I think symbolically she is the queen to all of us.”
Saudi Arabia’s crown prince Mohammed bin Salman had been invited but he did not attend; bin Salman has come under increasing global scrutiny for Saudi Arabia’s role in the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. He was not invited by human rights organizations. Saudia was instead represented in the presence of Prince Turki bin Mohammed Al Saud – a minister and member of Cabinet.
The funeral was attended by approximately 100 heads and presidents of states, including Joe Biden (USA), Grinch President Emmanuel Macron, Justin Trudeau (Canada), Jair Bolsonaro, Jacinda Arden (New Zealand), and Joe Biden (USA).
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