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Spain

King Juan Carlos set to attend the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II

King Juan Carlos will attend the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in London.

The former Monarch, who abdicated in 2014 and who has lived in self imposed exile in Abu Dhabi since 2020, has accepted the invitation sent to him.

King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia have already confirmed their attendance at the funeral. Queen Sofia will also be there.

This will be the first time that King Juan Carlos and King Felipe VI have been seen together in public in over two and a half years and since the decision for the former monarch to go into exile.

King Juan Carlos enjoyed a long friendship with Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh. King Charles also spent several summers with Juan Carlos and his family at their home on Mallorca, Marivent.

The man who ruled Spain for almost forty years still attracts controversy after years of allegations of financial impropriety, claims he has always denied. Although all inquiries into his finances have now been concluded or dropped, with no charges brought, he remains in exile. A brief visit to Spain earlier this year attracted some supportive crowds but a later trip back was cancelled.

King Felipe has had limited contact with his father since the exile and hasn’t been seen in public with him since 2020.

About author

Lydia Starbuck is Editor in Chief at Royal Central and the main producer and presenter of the Royal Central Podcast and Royal Central Extra. Lydia is also a pen name of June Woolerton who is a journalist and writer with over twenty years experience in TV, radio, print and online. Her latest book, A History of British Royal Jubilees, is out now. Her new book, The Mysterious Death of Katherine Parr, will be published in March 2024. June is an award winning reporter, producer and editor. She's appeared on outlets including BBC 5 Live, BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Local Radio and has also helped set up a commercial radio station. June is also an accomplished writer with a wide range of material published online and in print. She is the author of two novels, published as e-books. She is also a marriage registrar and ceremony celebrant.