Juan Carlos To Join Felipe & Leticia For Queen Elizabeth´s Funeral
The Spanish Royal Family will be fully represented at the funeral of Queen Elizabeth, due to be held at Westminster Abbey, in London on Monday 19th September.
The Spanish government has confirmed that King Felipe VI will be present as head of state, along with his wife, Queen Leticia.
In addition, Buckingham Palace has extended an invitation to the former king, Juan Carlos, who abdicated in 2014, and his wife, Queen Sofía to attend.
The Spanish and British Royal families have close links through Queen Sofia and Prince Philip, who were second cousins and descendants of Queen Victoria.
King Felipe was close to Queen Elizabeth, who he used to call ‘Aunt Lilibet’, and he sent a heartfelt telegram of condolence to King Charles III upon learning the news of her death.
When king, Juan Carlos I made the first official state visit by a Spanish monarch to the United Kingdom in 1986.
The visit was reciprocated when the Queen and Prince Phillip came to Spain two years later.
Felipe VI and Queen Letizia made a highly successful state visit to the UK in 2017.
This week the Spanish royal couple visited the official residence of the British Ambassador to Spain, Hugh Elliott to sign the Condolence Book.
The British Embassy has also updated the opening times for members of the public to sign the book which for Madrid is now Wednesday 14 – Saturday 17 September: 10:00-14:00 and on Monday 19 September from 15:00-18:00 while all consulates will be until Friday 16 from 10:00-15:00.
