The Diplomat
Their Majesties the King and Queen of Spain paid a visit yesterday to the chapel where the mortal remains of Queen Elizabeth II of England have been laid to rest since Wednesday in Westminster Hall, the oldest building in the Palace of Westminster, the seat of the British Parliament.
Don Felipe and Doña Letizia, dressed in mourning clothes, arrived at 16:10 (local time) accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, and the Spanish Ambassador in London, José Pascual Marco. The King and Queen bowed their heads as a sign of respect before the coffin, and Don Felipe said holy mass. After about three minutes, they left the chapel, which has already been visited by other international leaders and thousands of British citizens, to pay their last farewell to the sovereign.
The King and Queen arrived in London at around 13.00 (local time) on a Spanish Air Force flight from Madrid and a few hours later took part in a reception offered by the new British monarch, Charles III, at Buckingham Palace to world leaders who will take part in the funeral service for Elizabeth II today.
The reception was also attended by King Emeritus Juan Carlos – who travelled to London from Abu Dhabi – and Queen Sofia. For the last two years, when Juan Carlos de Borbón took up residence in the United Arab Emirates, there have been no images of him and his son, although the two were seen together in May at the Zarzuela Palace after the emeritus returned to Spain for a few days to take part in a regatta in the Galician town of Sanxenxo.
In the evening, the King and Queen stayed at the Spanish Ambassador’s residence, while the King and Queen Emeritus stayed in a hotel. All of them will be present today at the state funeral for Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey: Don Felipe and Doña Letizia representing the Spanish state and Don Juan Carlos and Doña Sofía as personal guests. The location of each of them at the funeral will depend on the protocol of the British Royal Household.
