Constantine's funeral brings Felipe VI back together in public with the emeritus King, the princesses and his nephews

The Kings and the emeritus have arrived separately at the ceremony and have not been sitting together

MADRID, 16 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The funeral for the former King of Greece Constantine brought together King Felipe VI and his entire family for the first time in public, including the emeritus Kings, the princesses and their six children, for the first time in three years although they were not have seen together. Only the daughters of the Kings, the Princess of Asturias and the Infanta Sofía have been absent.

The Kings and the emeritus have arrived separately at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens. First, Don Juan Carlos, helped by an assistant, and Doña Sofía, accompanied by the princesses Elena and Cristina and their children.

The parents of Felipe VI have sat in the second row, behind Queen Ana María and the children of the former King of Greece and brother of Doña Sofía, while the infantas have done so in the third row, behind their parents . The emeritus have exchanged some comments during the ceremony.

For their part, Don Felipe and Doña Letizia have arrived later, when the rest of the monarchs who have traveled to Athens to say a last goodbye to Constantine have done so. The Kings have taken a seat in the front row next to the coffin wrapped in the Greek flag, in the area reserved for the reigning monarchs.

Paul of Greece, Constantine's eldest son, has been in charge of receiving the guests at the funeral at the doors of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens, including the kings of Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark, as well as Prince Albert of Monaco, the Crown Prince of Norway or Princess Anne of England.

The funeral of Constantine, the last king of Greece, has reunited Felipe VI with his entire family. The last time that the Kings, the emeritus and the infantas coincided in a public act was on the occasion of the funeral of the infanta Pilar, sister of Don Juan Carlos, in January 2020.

The ceremony began about 20 minutes later than the initial scheduled time. Before that, the remains of Constantine have remained from 5:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in the neighboring Chapel of San Elefterios, where a burning chapel has been installed so that the citizens who have wanted to say goodbye to him that way.

The Kings and the emeritus, together with the infantas, already had the opportunity to see each other last night at the Constantine family dinner held at the King George Hotel in Athens, although no photos have been released in which they are seen together.

Felipe VI has met his father again on the occasion of a funeral. Both already attended the Elizabeth II event in London last September. Then, as on this occasion, Juan Carlos I traveled on his own from Abu Dhabi, where he has installed his permanent residence after moving to the United Arab Emirates in August 2020.

On that occasion, the British protocol made the King and the emeritus sit together, although they went separately to Westminster Abbey where the funeral was held for the queen for seven decades.

In the absence of a new visit by Don Juan Carlos to Spain, the King and his father could meet again at another event for European royalty, the coronation of Carlos III on May 6 in London.