Seated in the area of the abbey reserved for royal families, near the coffin of the late Queen, Felipe VI wore his gala military uniform, Juan Carlos wore a black suit, white shirt and black tie, while their wives were completely dressed in black.
They were last seen together in January 2020, at the funeral of a sister of Juan Carlos and aunt of the king.
The former head of state voluntarily went into exile in the United Arab Emirates a few months later, overwhelmed by suspicions of corruption linked to the opaque origin of his fortune. His son then ostensibly distanced himself.
The two couples arrived separately at Westminster Abbey on Monday, as had also happened the day before for the reception given by the new British King Charles III. Juan Carlos, 84 years old and operated in recent years on the knee and hip, moved with difficulty in both cases.
Juan Carlos, who had abdicated in 2014 in favor of his son, was invited by the British government. The Spanish executive insisted that Spain’s representative at the funeral was Felipe VI.
“The (Spanish) head of state is clearly King Felipe VI” while the former monarch “is in London to respond to an invitation in a personal capacity,” Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares told reporters. journalists.
Juan Carlos I and Queen Elizabeth II were distant cousins - Queen Victoria was both their great-great-grandmother – and Felipe VI called the monarch “Aunt Lilibeth”.
