Crown jewels! Kings and Queens from around the world unite for Charles’ coronation
Monarchs from around the world made their way to Westminster Abbey today, to watch the coronation of King Charles.
In a break from tradition, King Charles added crowned royals to the guest list for this coronation, meaning a number of kings and queens were able to take part in the pageantry.
For centuries, convention dictated that no other crowned royals should attend the coronation of a British monarch, in a tradition that lasted for 900 years.
This was based on the idea that the sacred event should be an intimate exchange between the monarch and their people, in the presence of God. But Charles decided to move on, which marks one of the ways he has tried to modernise the ceremony, meaning his crowned friends, including European royals and rulers from Arab states made it onto the guest list.
Among the royals leading the glamour were Princess Charlene of Monaco and Queen Letizia of Spain, among others.
Prince Albert of Monaco and Princess Charlene of Monaco
Prince Albert of Monaco, who was the first European royal to confirm his attendance at the coronation, attended the event with his wife Princess Charlene
He was the first European royal to confirm his attendance at King Charles’ coronation, revealing the news at the end of January.
And Prince Albert of Monaco, 64, spoke fondly of the British king, whom he described as ‘a very educated man and someone with a great sense of humour’.
He also suggested he was looking forward to the event, telling PEOPLE magazine he was ‘certain that it’s going to be an incredible ceremony and a very moving one’.
He was accompanied by his wife Princess Charlene of Monaco.
The South-African Olympic swimmer’s marriage to Prince Albert has been plagued by controversy in recent times, with Albert admitting to two illegitimate children and Charlene spending a significant amount of time outside of Monaco.
However they put on a united front today, and entered the service together.
The pair share eight-year-olds Jacques, Hereditary Prince of Monaco and Princess Gabriella, Countess of Carladès, however the twins were not with them today.
Princess Charlene was chic on in a two-piece trouser suit in cream. She donned a matching cream hat, worn atop her cropped hair.
King Felipe and Queen Letizia, Spain
The Spanish royals – Queen Letizia of Spain and King Felipe of Spain – were typically glamourous as they made they way to the Abbey today
Queen Letizia of Spain, who worked as a journalist before she married King Felipe, was in attendance today, with her husband King Felipe of Spain.
Felipe is a distant cousin of Charles: his mother, Queen Sofia, was a third cousin of the Queen and a first cousin once removed of the Duke of Edinburgh.
Following the death of Queen Elizabeth, who Felipe celled Aunt Lilibet, the Spanish royal wrote a touching letter to Charles.
King Abdullah II and Queen Rania, Jordan
Like many of the other royal women, Rania opted for a monochrome outfit, matching her midi-length, long-sleeved cream frock to her cream stiletto pumps
Queen Rania was also typically chic as she arrived at today’s ceremony with her husband King Abdullah.
Like many of the other royal women in attendance, she wore a monochrome outfit.
Her long-sleeved midi-length, which boasted long sleeves and a high neck, were perfectly paired with cream pumps.
King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and Queen Máxima
(Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands and Her Royal Highness Catharina-Amalia, the Princess of Orange attended event night before)
Queen Maxima attended alongside her husband King Willem-Alexander.
King Willem-Alexander is distantly related to King Charles – he was the Queen’s fifth cousin once removed thanks to an ancient connection in their family tree.
Willem-Alexander is a descendant of Princess Carolina of Orange-Nassau, who was the daughter of William IV, Prince of Orange, and his wife Anne, the eldest daughter of King George II of Great Britain and his consort Caroline of Ansbach.