Royalty and high profile guests at the funeral of former King Constantine (photo-reportage-watch funeral live)

Large crowds and personalities have been arriving from early Monday morning in the Athens Metropolitan Cathedral where the coffin with the body of the late former King Constantine was moved shortly after 11:00, after the end of the pilgrimage by the citizens.

Royalty from all over the globe and high-profile guests gradually arrived at the church, expressing their condolences to the sons of the former king, Pavlos, Philipos, and Nikolaos, and are then led to their seats. Shortly after 11:30 a.m., the Honourary King of Spain, Juan Carlos, arrived at the Metropolis holding his wife and sister of the late King Constantine, Queen Sofia, and their two daughters Elena and Victoria – Frederika. Nicholas came out of the church to welcome them. King Felipe of Spain with Queen Letizia are also in attendance and was earlier received on the steps by Paul, as was Princess Anne of Britain.

King Willem Alexander of the Netherlands arrived at the venue with his wife Queen Maxim later, who was welcomed by Paul, while Prince Albert of Monaco, the Queen of Denmark and Anna’s sister – Maria, Margarita, the great Duke of Luxembourg, Henry.

Already, since 11:20, the representatives of the government, that is vice-president Panagiotis Pikramenos and the Minister of Culture and Sports Lina Mendoni, are in the Metropolis.

The coffin was placed on the pedestal while in front, on a table with blue and red cushions the medals of the former king were placed. The king’s three sons, visibly moved, bid farewell to their father. Marianna Vardinogianni, Makis Voridis with his wife, ND MP Thanasis Davakis, the president of the Hellenic Olympic Committee Spyros Kapralos, Alexandros Lykourezos, Eugenia Manolidou, businessman Michalis Chandris, Nikolaos Tsakos, the Cilia Krithoriotis.

photo credit – William Faithfull

Honorary King of Spain Juan Carlos and Queen Mother Sofia with their family. This is one of the rare meetings of the family. The former king’s second sister, Princess Irene, also arrived with them