The Windsors and Europe

[Somebody]

The funeral of prince Bernhard is missing in the list. The Duke of Edinburgh attended - while all other European royal houses, except for Denmark, had the monarch (in most cases accompanied by their spouse) attending.

The Belgian exception indeed stands out. Especially since within a couple one had queen Elizabeth II herself attending while she didn't bother sending anyone to the funeral of his widow.

 

[tommy100]

I've edited the list to put the funeral of Prince Bernhard in.

 

[Tirilschatz]

I wondered for long, is it known why Elizabeth attended the funeral of Baudoin herself?

 

[Stefan]

Did anyone from, the british RF attend the funeral of former King Léopold III. of Belgium?

 

[tommy100]

I looked it up and seemingly not - it appeared to be a much smaller funeral than a full "state funeral" with only family attending but happy to be corrected.

 

[Stefan]

Also not in the List the funerals of Fürst Franz Josef and Fürstin Gina in 1989.
To the one of the Fürst the Princess of Wales went and not sure but i think it was Prince Edward for the funeral of the Fürstin.

And nobody went to the funeral of Fürstin Marie in 2021 which was also a State funeral-

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

On itself the Princess Royal is a perfect representante as she is equally related to the Geeek royal family as her brother, is the most senior royal of the King's generation, is a fellow Olympic medalist and a fellow member of the IOC. One can hardly complain about Anne attending this funeral of a King who lost his throne 55 years ago.

 

[Somebody]

UK Sovereign's don't attend foreign funerals - the late Queen only did it once in her 70 years on the throne. Why we are still talking about it now...

Do Prince Nikolaos & Tatiana live in Athens? I assume most of the family are having to stay in hotels? I hope the funeral all goes to plan for the family's sake.

Moved from the thread on Constantine's funeral. Do we know for sure that British monarchs don't attend? Or is it just that Queen Elizabeth II as monarch did not attend? I am not sure how easy it would have been to attend funerals prior to her reign and whether monarchs from other countries would regularly attend funerals from fellow royals/monarchs - but I don't think we can that easily generalize what British monarchs do - given that there has been only one monarch for over 70 years until very recently who did things her way and not necessarily how other British monarchs before her did (for example, she created princes 'duke of X' upon marriage while previous monarchs did not wait for the princes to get married to do so.

 

[muriel]

I wondered for long, is it known why Elizabeth attended the funeral of Baudoin herself?

I think QE2 was close friends with Baudoin, and that is why she chose to attend.

 

[Hans-Rickard]

The Duke of Kent (the father of the current duke) attended the funeral of Queen Maud of Norway in 1938, and the Duke of Gloucester (father of the current Duke) attended the funerals of King Gustaf V of Sweden in 1950, Crown Princess Märtha of Norway in 1954 and King Haakon of Norway in 1957.

Prince Arthur of Connaught attended the funeral of his sister Crown Princess Margareta of Sweden in 1920 (representing both King George V and his father the Duke of Connaught) and i belive also of Queen Victoria of Sweden in 1930…

 

[tommy100]

King Constantine, 2023 - former King of Greece, now a republic - funeral attended by:
Princess Anne [fellow IOC member]

Princess Marie of Liechtenstein, 2021 - consort of Sovereign Prince - funeral attended by:
No one (only other royals in attendance were Queen Sofia of Spain, Prince Guillaume and Princess Sibilla of Lux and Princess Caroline of Hanover)

Grand Duke Jean, 2019 - abdicated Grand Duke - funeral attended by:
Princess Anne [fellow IOC member], Duke & Duchess of Gloucester, Lady Elizabeth Anson and Countess Mountbatten of Burma

Prince Henrik of Denmark, 2018 - consort of Danish Queen - funeral attended by:
no one - no foreign royal houses were invited bar the Queen's sisters and her brother in law King Constantine

Queen Fabiola, 2014 - dowager Queen of former King of Belgians - funeral attended by:
No one

Grand Duchess Josephine, 2005 - wife of abdicated Grand Duke, born Princess of Belgium - funeral attended by:
The Duke of York, second son of Queen Elizabeth II

Prince Ranier of Monaco, 2005 - sovereign Prince of Monaco - funeral attended by:
The Duke of York, second son of Queen Elizabeth II

Princess Julianna, 2004 - abdicated Monarch of Netherlands - funeral attended by:
The Duke of Edinburgh, consort of British Sovereign

Princess Bernhard, 2004 - spouse of abdicated Monarch of Netherlands - funeral attended by:
The Duke of Edinburgh, consort of British Sovereign

Prince Claus, 2002 - consort of Dutch Queen Beatrix - funeral attended by:
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales

Queen Ingrid of Denmark, 2000 - Queen Mother of Denmark, born Princess of Sweden - funeral attended by:
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales

King Baudouin of Belgians, 1993 - reigning King of Belgian - funeral attended by:
Queen Elizabeth II & The Duke of Edinburgh

King Olav of Norway, 1991 - King of Norway - funeral attended by:
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales & The Princess Anne, The Princess Royal

Prince Franz Joseph II, 1989 - Sovereign Prince of Liechtenstein - funeral attended by:
The Princess of Wales (Diana)

Princess Gina of Liechtenstein, 1989 - consort to Sovereign Prince of Liechtenstein - funeral attended by:
Prince Edward (though not 100% sure)

Grand Duchess Charlotte, 1985 - abdicated Grand Duchess - funeral attended by:
Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester

Princess Grace of Monaco, 1982 - Consort to Sovereign Prince of Monaco - funeral attended by:
The Princess of Wales (Diana)

King Frederick IX, 1972 - King of Denmark - funeral attended by:
The Duke of Edinburgh, consort of British Sovereign

King Gustaf VI Adolf, 1973 - King of Sweden - funeral attended by:
The Duke of Edinburgh, consort of British Sovereign

 

[tommy100]

Moved from the thread on Constantine's funeral. Do we know for sure that British monarchs don't attend? Or is it just that Queen Elizabeth II as monarch did not attend? I am not sure how easy it would have been to attend funerals prior to her reign and whether monarchs from other countries would regularly attend funerals from fellow royals/monarchs - but I don't think we can that easily generalize what British monarchs do - given that there has been only one monarch for over 70 years until very recently who did things her way and not necessarily how other British monarchs before her did (for example, she created princes 'duke of X' upon marriage while previous monarchs did not wait for the princes to get married to do so.

Yes I agree, I worded it poorly in saying British monarchs as if they never have but I would assume that before the late Queen's reign travel would have made it tricky for anyone but the closest of relatives or where state protocol demanded it. Of course in the inter-wars it may have been possible but I suspect unlikely.

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

I think QE2 was close friends with Baudoin, and that is why she chose to attend.

Queen Elizabeth II was absolutely no "close friend to Baudouin" . The relationship with the Belgians is complicated since the constitutional crisis around King Leopold III.

It was middle in sunny August, the Queen residing at Balmoral with a virginally blank agenda, when the news broke that the King has passed away in Spain. There simply was no any excuse not to attend.

And even this they messed it up as the Duke wore an Order of Zaïre (former Congo) at a Belgian funeral...

 

[sophie25]

Queen Elizabeth II was absolutely no "close friend to Baudouin" . The relationship with the Belgians is complicated since the constitutional crisis around King Leopold III.

It was middle in sunny August, the Queen residing at Balmoral with a virginally blank agenda, when the news broke that the King has passed away in Spain. There simply was no any excuse not to attend.

And even this they messed it up as the Duke wore an Order of Zaïre (former Congo) at a Belgian funeral...

I don't think she would have needed an excuse, if she hadn't wanted to go she just wouldn't have and that would have been it. Her Balmoral holiday was always sacrosanct so she must have thought a lot of the King to have broken her stay there to attend, even if it was just for one day.

 

[Moonmaiden23]

I think QE2 was close friends with Baudoin, and that is why she chose to attend.

QEII was reported to have had great affection and respect for Baudouin. He and Fabiola were her personal guests at Windsor and Buckingham Palace, where the Belgian Royals appeared alongside the queen on the Palace balcony for the Trooping ceremony in the late 80's.

His early and unexpected death at only 62 years old must have come as quite a shock to her, as it did for all of Royal Europe.

 

[tommy100]

I think there is certainly a sense that Baudoin's death was a huge shock and surprise to everyone and that may be why Queen Elizabeth decided to attend - plus she was on her summer break so there were no obligations it would mean cancelling.

I can imagine the Queen wouldn't have bene able to attend Olav's funeral in 91 in no small part due to the Gulf War that had just started - she may have been advised it was not a good time to have the sovereign out of the country. She did attend a memorial service for him in London in March - 2 months after his death, which Princess Martha Louise also attended along with the Queen Mother, Margaret, the Gloucesters and Kents.
https://apnews.com/article/366292d4f1cc3ea0f35c952838e5238e

 

[Mbruno]

I think there is certainly a sense that Baudoin's death was a huge shock and surprise to everyone and that may be why Queen Elizabeth decided to attend - plus she was on her summer break so there were no obligations it would mean cancelling.

I can imagine the Queen wouldn't have bene able to attend Olav's funeral in 91 in no small part due to the Gulf War that had just started - she may have been advised it was not a good time to have the sovereign out of the country. She did attend a memorial service for him in London in March - 2 months after his death, which Princess Martha Louise also attended along with the Queen Mother, Margaret, the Gloucesters and Kents.
https://apnews.com/article/366292d4f1cc3ea0f35c952838e5238e

I am actually surprised that QEII did not attend King Olav's funeral. He was her father's first cousin and considered pretty much a member of the Family. To be honest, I don't think the Gulf War would be a reasonable excuse not to go to Norway.

 

[Marengo]

King Constantine, 2023 - former King of Greece, now a republic - funeral attended by:
Princess Anne [fellow IOC member]

[...]

Thanks for composing the list!

In addition, some others that I could think of:

King Mihai II of Romania's funeral was attended by the Prince of Wales.

Queen Wilhelmina's funeral in 1962 was attended by her cousin, the Countess of Athlone.

I could not find any British representation at the funeral fo King Leopold III in 1983. I am not sure about the representation to the funeral of Queen Louise of Sweden. The mother of the Duke of Edinburgh was there. Theroyalwatcher blog mentions 'the princess royal' which would mean Pss Mary. She died only a few weeks later.

--
As for the funeral of King Baudouin, the story that I have always heard going around at various internet forums is that she did not want to go at all. She had been close to other monarchs whose funeral she did not attend. But she was vacationing in Balmoral and her advisors told her that it would look bad if she would not go.

 

[Stefan]

I am actually surprised that QEII did not attend King Olav's funeral. He was her father's first cousin and considered pretty much a member of the Family. To be honest, I don't think the Gulf War would be a reasonable excuse not to go to Norway.

I think the Queen Mother was scheduled to attend his funeral but could not because of the Gulf War

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

QEII was reported to have had great affection and respect for Baudouin. He and Fabiola were her personal guests at Windsor and Buckingham Palace, where the Belgian Royals appeared alongside the queen on the Palace balcony for the Trooping ceremony in the late 80's.

His early and unexpected death at only 62 years old must have come as quite a shock to her, as it did for all of Royal Europe.

Balcony appeaeances really say nothing.

The Grand-Duke and Grand-Duchess of Luxembourg were on the balcony (the Grand-Duke was Colonel of the Regiment of the Irish Guards). The same counts for Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard (the Prince held the British rank of no less than an Air Marshal of the Royal Air Force even...).

The appearance on balconies says nothing about friendships otherwise Willem-Alexander and Máxima are "friends" because she stood with Camilla and Catherine on the balcony during the National Remembrance at the Cenotaph?

 

[valeas]

IMO there is not any excuse from not paying respect at a funeral (except being really sick)

Why is this EII (almost) never attended " dear cousin's" funerals ? Law or just personally poor choice?
Thank you for explaining to me.
Unless there is an explanation one could easily think she felt herself too important(silly but possible) did not want to risk showing emotions or ?

 

[muriel]

Queen Elizabeth II was absolutely no "close friend to Baudouin" .

I presume that is pure speculation.

It was middle in sunny August, the Queen residing at Balmoral with a virginally blank agenda, when the news broke that the King has passed away in Spain. There simply was no any excuse not to attend.

QE2 did not need an excuse to not attend, she simply did not attend funerals of other monarchs.

 

[muriel]

I don't think she would have needed an excuse, if she hadn't wanted to go she just wouldn't have and that would have been it. Her Balmoral holiday was always sacrosanct so she must have thought a lot of the King to have broken her stay there to attend, even if it was just for one day.

Quite right.

 

[muriel]

To be honest, I don't think the Gulf War would be a reasonable excuse not to go to Norway.

Olav's death coincided with the outbreak of the war in Kuwait / Iraq in January 1991. IMO, it really would not have been the right thing for the monarch to be away on a non-essential visit at a time of outbreak of a war in which the British had a key role.

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

I presume that is pure speculation.



QE2 did not need an excuse to not attend, she simply did not attend funerals of other monarchs.

When even the Emperor and Empress of Japan travelled to Brussels to pay their respects to the late King Baudouin, the full summer-holidaying Queen Elizabeth really had no any excuse to stay at Balmoral instead of spending some two hours at her very neighbours and fellow Von Sachsen-Coburgs opposite Dover....

 

[Hans-Rickard]

King Baudouins funeral happened in the middle of the summer holidays for every monarch. And everyone broke their holidays and in some cases even returned from trips abroad to go to Brussels…

Ofcourse Queen Elizabeth II needed no ”valid” excuse to not go… Had she said ”unable”’she wouldn’t have come and the funeral service would have started right on time regardless…

But from a PR point of view it would have put her in a very awkward situation, if she was taking long walks and hosting hunting parties at Balmoral while everyone except her gathered in the Cathedral in Brussels.. She read the situation perfectly by opting to go in person…

For King Olavs funeral there was talk of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother attending, as she was a close personal friend of him… But there are rumours that she was adviced by the government to stay in Britain given the outbreak of the Gulf War.

 

[SirGyamfi1]

When even the Emperor and Empress of Japan travelled to Brussels to pay their respects to the late King Baudouin, the full summer-holidaying Queen Elizabeth really had no any excuse to stay at Balmoral instead of spending some two hours at her very neighbours and fellow Von Sachsen-Coburgs opposite Dover....

I think you know well enough why the Emperor and Empress of Japan went to the funeral, it didn’t matter the distance to them because Baudoin and Fabiola had been personal friends with them for many years and played a role in facilitating their love match via letters so it made sense for them to go. IMO, the late QEII was simply not close to Baudoin. Other than being “Coburgs” what did she have in common with Baudoin? Nothing. I don’t consider them neighbors.

 

[SirGyamfi1]

IMO there is not any excuse from not paying respect at a funeral (except being really sick)

Why is this EII (almost) never attended " dear cousin's" funerals ? Law or just personally poor choice?
Thank you for explaining to me.
Unless there is an explanation one could easily think she felt herself too important(silly but possible) did not want to risk showing emotions or ?

She has shown emotions at funerals before so I don’t get your idea.

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

I think you know well enough why the Emperor and Empress of Japan went to the funeral, it didn’t matter the distance to them because Baudoin and Fabiola had been personal friends with them for many years and played a role in facilitating their love match via letters so it made sense for them to go. IMO, the late QEII was simply not close to Baudoin. Other than being “Coburgs” what did she have in common with Baudoin? Nothing. I don’t consider them neighbors.

Whatever the reason, QEII did attend, and I applaud her for giving honour to a fellow Sovereign, figurally a stone throw from the white cliffs of Dover.

 

[Alisa]

I saw these lovely photos of the CP Mary and the Princess of Wales. The ladies have met on a few occasions. Here's to hoping they have developed or will developed a long-term friendship

https://www.instagram.com/p/CnM29YJsp9b/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=