The funeral for Queen Elizabeth II has made possible the first image, in several years, of the Kings, Felipe and Letiza, together with Juan Carlos and Sofía. British protocol has prioritized their status as members of a royal family close to the British royal house and, like other reigning monarchs and close relatives, they have placed themselves in the same group against the British royal family, on one side and the other. of the coffin of Elizabeth II.
For several days, the Zarzuela has known the position that both the current kings and the previous ones were going to occupy in Westminster Abbey, since, above their status as heads of state, the reigning monarchs of Europe were going to have consideration of family. Hence, other heads of state, such as the president of the United States, France or Portugal, among others, have occupied another block of banks within the abbey.
Queen Margaret of Denmark, dean and only woman among the kings of Europe, has occupied the first position along with her son and heir, Prince Frederick. Next to her, the kings Carlos Gustavo and Silvia of Sweden and then, in the same first bank, the kings of Holland, Guillermo and Máxima, accompanied by the former sovereign, now Princess Beatriz. In the second row, from left to right, Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofía, followed by Kings Harald and Sonia of Norway. The third row has been for the kings of Belgium, Felipe and Matilde, the grand dukes of Luxembourg, Enrique and María Teresa, and the princes of Monaco, Alberto and Charlene. Closing this third row, Simeon of Bulgaria and behind him, Ana Maria of Greece, with her son Pablo and his wife Marie Chantal, representing two non-reigning houses. Neither Bulgaria nor Greece are monarchies and, in fact, another block of attendees included representatives of both countries.
The configuration of the group of royalty, their position at the funeral and the mixture of kings in office, with previous monarchs and kings without a throne is understood by the very condition of Queen Elizabeth. The protocol of the funeral of a member of a royal family and more in the case of a reigning sovereign distinguishes, above other dignitaries, people of her condition.
Before the start of the funeral, the Spanish Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares, who accompanied the King and Queen, made a statement at the gates of the Spanish embassy in London in which he assured that "the papers (representing Spain) are clearly defined" at the funeral of Elizabeth II, given the expectation generated by the presence in London of the King Emeritus. "The head of state is clearly Felipe VI," he insisted, alluding to the attention caused by the presence of the king emeritus in the British capital of the emeritus to participate in the funeral. Albares recalled that "the king emeritus is in London responding to an invitation in a personal capacity and, therefore, I believe that the roles are clearly defined and the reason why they are here, too". At the time he made these statements, the Foreign Minister already knew, through the British and Spanish protocol services, that the King and Queen were going to sit next to King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia.
The four kings already coincided this Sunday afternoon at the reception offered by King Charles III to all the dignitaries who have traveled to London for the funeral of the one who was queen for seven decades, although they entered Buckingham Palace separately.
The King and his mother, Queen Sofia, will attend together this afternoon the private and family religious service that will take place in the chapel of Windsor Castle, prior to the burial of the remains of Elizabeth II in the crypt of the temple. King Carlos has invited his royal relatives to the ceremony, but King Juan Carlos has declined the invitation since it coincides with the time he planned to fly to Abu Dhabi, while Queen Letizia has also had to cancel his presence due to the fact that, also in the middle of the afternoon, he undertakes a trip to New York where, in the next few days, he attends various events convened by UNICEF and the FAO within the scope of the United Nations General Assembly.
