The Queen: Lunch with the crowned heads of the world. Photocredit: The Telegraph
The background
Queen Elizabeth II is having a lunch for all the reigning (and some non-reigning) monarchs in the world to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee. The list has attracted some controversy: The King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, is attending; he’s been accused of human rights abuses, including suppressing democracy. Also causing problems is the King of Swaziland, Mswati III, who stands accused of living in luxury whilst his subjects eat cow dung; Sheikh Nasser Mohamed Aal Jaber Aal-Sabah of Kuwait and Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf bin Abdulaziz Aal Saud of Saudi Arabia are also leaders of countries where abuses are rife, reported The Guardian. The Queen of Spain is notoriously not attending, over the issue of Gibraltar.
All these royals are attending – but Queen Sofia of Spain is not. Why? Read about it on Periscope Post.
The full guest list is below, but let’s take a look at some of the others attending.
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark
Thought of as one of the more intellectual monarchs, Her Majesty succeeded to the throne in 1972. She illustrated the Danish issue of Lord of the Rings by J R R Tolkein and is also a skilled embroiderer. The Danish royal family has been the same for 49 generations. She and Queen Elizabeth, along with the Queen of the Netherlands, are members of the most exclusive trade union in the world – the “Three Queens Club.”
Emperor Akihito of Japan
He’s the 125th Japanese Emperor to sit on the Chrysanthemum Throne. He is an accomplished ichthyological researcher, having written for scholarly papers such as the Japanese Journal of Icthyology. Succession to the throne has been a problem, as the Crown Prince has only had daughters; the Crown Princess has been treated for depression.
Prince Hans-Adam II of Liechtenstein
He has some very extensive powers over his almost feudal fiefdom. He’s a financial wizard, and he also likes science fiction. He’s made jokes about selling the principality – although he does invite his 32,000 subjects up to the castle every so often. He also used to host Prince Charles for skiing sessions.
Prince Albert II of Monaco
Another Princeling with a tiny but massively wealthy country, Prince Albert is known for having children out of wedlock and marrying a swimmer who tried to run away. His sisters have been prone to scandal, too, with one of them, Princess Stephanie, marrying her bodyguard. His nephew, Andrea Casiraghi, is thought of as Europe’s best looking royal.
King Carl Gustav XVI of Sweden
This 65-year-old Scandi monarch is alleged to have attended sex clubs. Probably the most rock and roll of all the royals. At least he can share his stories with Albert – although he’d probably want to keep quiet in front of the Three Queens.
The Guest List in Full
HM The King of Bahrain;
HRH Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa (Bahrain);
HM The King of The Belgians;
HM The Queen of The Belgians;
HM The Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei;
HM Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha (Brunei);
HM King Simeon II of the Bulgarians;
HM Queen Margarita of the Bulgarians;
HM Queen Margrethe II of Denmark;
HRH The Prince Consort (Denmark);
HM King Constantine of the Hellenes;
HM Queen Anne-Marie of the Hellenes;
HIM The Emperor of Japan;
HIM The Empress of Japan;
HM The King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan;
HM Queen of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan;
HH Sheikh Nasser Mohamed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah of Kuwait.
HM King Letsie III of Lesotho;
HM Queen Masenate Mohato Seeiso of Lesotho;
HSH Prince Hans-Adam II of Liechtenstein;
HRH The Grand Duke of Luxembourg;
HRH The Grand Duchess of Luxembourg;
HM Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia;
HM Seri Paduka Baginda Raja Permaisuri of Malaysia;
HSH The Prince of Monaco;
HSH The Princess of Monaco;
HRH Princess Lalla Meryem of Morocco;
HM The Queen of the Netherlands;
HM The King of Norway;
HM The Queen of Norway;
HH The Emir of The State of Qatar;
HH Sheika Mozah bint Nasser Al-Missned (Qatar).
HM King Michael I of Romania;
HM Queen Anne of Romania;
HRH Prince Mohammed Bin Nawaf Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia;
HM King Mswati III of Swaziland;
Inkhosikati LaMbikiza (Swaziland);
HM The King of Sweden;
HM The Queen of Sweden;
HRH The Crown Prince of Thailand;
HRH Princess Srirasm of Thailand;
HM The King of Tonga;
HM The Queen of Tonga;
HH The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi;
HRH The Crown Prince of Yugoslavia;
HRH The Crown Princess of Yugoslavia.
