Romania’s president and royal family joined 500 guests who attended a reception offered by King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla at Buckingham Palace on Sunday evening.
The new monarch invited world leaders, official overseas guests and working royals to come together on the eve of his mother Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral for a special event in her honor.
President Klaus Iohannis and his wife Carmen, Princess Margareta and Prince Radu were among the attendees at ‘the reception of the century.’ Charles has deep ties with Romania and already knows the Romanian president well. He is related to Margareta through both his parents.
King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium and Prince Albert and Princess Charlene of Monaco were among the members of overseas royalty as well as world leaders including US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Hundreds of dignitaries were pictured arriving by bus as the reception began.
U.S. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden traveled to Buckingham Palace in their armored limousine, the Beast.
About 2,000 people from around the globe are expected to pay respects to the late monarch, who died at age 96 on September 8 at Balmoral Castle, at Monday’s state funeral at Westminster Abbey.
The presidents of the Council and European Commission Charles Michel and Ursula von der Leyen are also attending.
Notable absences include Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was not invited, and China’s President Xi Jinping who sent his deputy, Vice-President Wang Qishan.
Later Monday there will be a private burial service in King George VI Memorial Chapel, Windsor attended by close family members.
The queen’s coffin, along with that of the Duke of Edinburgh, is moved from the royal vault to the chapel where it will be interred.
Mourners gather at King Charles III home in Transylvania to reflect on queen’s life
