Monday, 21 April 2025

Royals Attendance at The Pope's Funerals & Inaugurations (2005 to Present)

This list covers the Royals who attended The Pope's funeral in an official capacity. Former Monarchies are not included.

Foreign Dignitaries Invited - We marked this as: 
  • YES, if most countries around the world were invited to send a official delegation
  • NO, if most countries were not invited to send an official delegation. (In those cases, usually only Italy and the birth country of the Pope were invited. Any royal in attendance would then be attending in a personal capacity.)

Religion
Catholic
Non-Catholic
Mixed Religions
Table 2
2025-Present
We have included on this list all the Monarchies that participated in the last State Funeral (Pope John Paul II in 2005), as they are likely to send someone to Pope Francis's funeral.

Country 2025 
Funeral 
Francis
2025 
Inauguration
- - -
Belgium King Philippe &
Queen Mathilde
- - -
Denmark Queen Mary
- - -
Jordan King Abdullah & Queen RaniaPrince Ghazi bin Muhammad - - -
Lesotho King Letsie
- - -
Liechtenstein Hereditary Prince Alois & Hereditary Princess Sophie - - -
Luxembourg Grand Duke Henri &
Grand Duchess Maria Teresa
- - -
Monaco Prince Albert & Princess Charlene - - -
Morocco Crown Prince Moulay Hassan
- - -
Netherlands *Queen Maxima of the Netherlands - - -
Norway Crown Prince Haakon & Crown Princess Mette-Marit
- - -
Qatar Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani
- - -
Saudia Arabia
Prince Faisal bin Sattam bin Abdulaziz - - -
Spain King Felipe & Queen Letizia - - -
Sweden King Carl Gustaf & Queen SilviaCrown Princess Victoria - - -
UAE Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed Al Nahyan
Sheikh Saud bin Saqr al Qasimi  of Ras Al Khaimah - - -
UK Prince WilliamPrince Edward - - -
-

- - -
Foreign Dignitaries Invited YesYes - - -
Total
Monarchies
1411 - - -
  • 2025 Francis
    • Netherland's official Monarch's Birthday celebrations, Koningsdag (King's Day) fell on the same day. As a result, they were unable to send a member of the royal family. 
    • King Frederik of Denmark was unable to join his wife due to his official visit to Japan.
    • King Harald of Norway no longer attends international events due to health & mobility issues. Queen Sonja was on medical leave at the time. 
    • Complete List of Royal Attendance with Former Monarches and any extended Royals attending in a personal capacity. 

Table 1
2005-2023


Country 2005
Funeral
John Paul II
2005
Inauguration
Benedict XVII
2013
Inauguration
Francis
2023
Funeral
Benedict XVII
Bahrain
Prince Abdullah bin
Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa
BelgiumKing Albert &
Queen Paola
Prince Philippe & Princess Mathilde King Albert &
Queen Paola
King Philippe & Queen Mathilde
DenmarkQueen Margrethe  &
Prince Henrik

JordanKing Abdullah &
Queen Rania

LesothoKing Letsie III
LiechtensteinPrince Hans-Adam II & Princess MarieHereditary Prince Alois Hereditary Prince Alois
& Hereditary Princess Sophie
Prince Stefan of Liechtenstein
(Ambassador to The Vatican)
LuxembourgGrand Duke Henri &
Grand Duchess Maria Teresa

Monaco*Prince Albert Prince Albert &
Princess Charlene

MoroccoPrince Moulay Rachid
Netherlands
Prince Willem-Alexander &
Princess Maxima

NorwayQueen Sonja
QatarEmir Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani
SpainKing Juan Carlos &
Queen Sofia
Prince Felipe &
Princess Letizia
Queen Sofia
SwedenKing Carl Gustaf &
Queen Silvia
King Carl Gustaf
UAESheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan
UKPrince CharlesPrince Philip The Duke & Duchess of Gloucester
Foreign Dignitaries InvitedYesYes Yes No
Total
Monarchies
137 8 3

Note:
  • 2005 John Paul II
    • Monaco royals were unable to attend due to the illness and the death of Prince Rainer of Monaco a few days after the Pope.
    • King Harald of Norway was unable to attend due to his recent Heart Surgery
  • 2023 Benedict XVI
    • Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI died in December 2022. His funeral was held in January 2023.
    • This was not a state funeral. Royals Attended in a personal capacity. Only Italy and Germany were invited to send a senior official to represent the country.  Other countries were represented by their Ambassador. 

Condolence Messages for the passing of Pope Francis (2025)

Condolence Messages from Monarchies, following the death of Pope Francis. Messages have been translated into English, when necessary. If a message is given in multiple languages, the preference is: English, then one of the official language of that monarchy. 

(Monarchies that are Catholic are marked with an Asterisk*.)

Current Monarchies

Bahrain 

His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa sent a cable of condolences to Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Vatican, following the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis.

His Majesty the King expressed sincere condolences, praising the significant role played by His Holiness in promoting interfaith and intercultural dialogue, advancing the values of human solidarity and tolerance, fostering peaceful coexistence among people of all backgrounds, and supporting just causes while rejecting conflict and war.


Belgium*

King Philippe & Queen Mathilde of Belgium

It is with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Pope Francis. He was a great man, close to the most humble and concerned about the world's problems.

We share the grief of all Catholics throughout the world and all those who loved and appreciated him. We also express our gratitude for the honor he bestowed upon us by visiting our country.

Philippe and Mathilde

Bhutan 

-

Brunei

-

Cambodia

-

Denmark

King Frederik of Denmark

Your Eminence, 

It is with profound sorrow that the Queen and I have learned of the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. 

We have fond memories from our meeting with His Holiness in 2018 at the Vatican. We will remember him as a Pope dedicated to promoting peace, justice, and always advocating for people living in vulnerable situations. 

Please accept our deepest sympathy and condolences for the Church in this time of loss. 

Frederik R. 

King of Denmark


Eswatini

-

Japan 

-

Jordan 

King Abdullah of Jordan 

Deepest condolences to our Christian brothers and sisters around the world. Pope Francis was admired by all as the Pope of the People. He brought people together, leading with kindness, humility, and compassion. His legacy will live on in his good deeds and teachings.
 

Kuwait 

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah mourned on Monday in a cable sent to Cardinal of the Catholic Church Giovanni Battista Re, the demise of Pope Francis at the age of 88 years old.

In his cable, His Highness the Amir expressed his sorrow and praised the Pope's great contributions, including the Pope's courageous stances, which supported peace and coexistence, and became a model of religious tolerance and bringing people together, and forgiveness throughout his career.

Lesotho*

-

Liechtenstein*

-

Luxembourg*

From Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg  

Your Eminence, 
The Grand Duchess and I are deeply saddened by the news of the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. This sadness is all the greater given that we had the honor and immense joy of welcoming him on an official visit to Luxembourg last October. 
Pope Francis was a man of great compassion, sharing the pain and suffering of others. Constantly concerned about the problems of the most disadvantaged and refugees, he was devoted to the most vulnerable, while remaining attentive to the hopes of young people.
He was a spiritual guide for us and for the world beyond the Church. 
We offer our most sincere condolences to you and, through you, to the entire Catholic community. 
Henri


Malaysia 

-

Monaco*

Prince Albert of Monaco: 

It is with infinite sadness and deep sorrow that we learned of the death of His Holiness Pope Francis on this Easter Monday.

Particularly moved, my family, myself and the Principality would like to express our deepest condolences to the Catholic Church and all the faithful with whom we share a great sorrow.

In this time of pain and mourning, we keep in mind and in our hearts the apostolic blessings which the Holy Father lavishly bestowed upon us during his Pontificate and fervently pray for the repose of his soul.

May his unrelenting message of love, brotherhood, peace, faith, justice, mercy, compassion, and respect for our nature continue to nourish our thoughts and commitments to the service of the common good and radiate upon a world he will leave his mark on. With profound gratitude, we pay tribute to the very great servant of mankind who has just left us.

We ask Your Most Reverend Eminence to believe in the part that we take, with all the inhabitants of the Principality, in the mourning of the Church and of the Vatican City.

ALBERT, PRINCE OF MONACO

Morocco

King Mohammed of Morocco

“Your Eminence,

It was with great sorrow that I learned of the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis – may Almighty God accept him in His vast Paradise.

On this sad occasion, I send you, Christians around the world, and especially the esteemed Roman Catholic Church, my sincere condolences and deepest sympathy. The world has lost an eminent religious figure, who dedicated his life to serving lofty human ideals and common values rooted in faith, freedom, peace, love and solidarity among different peoples. The late Pope also consistently called for protecting and preserving the environment, which is the home of all mankind.

As we ponder on the life of the deceased, we see that it was full of generosity and sacrifice. The late pontiff dedicated himself to combatting marginalization and poverty and defending human dignity. He condemned, in particular, the circumstances relating to the scourge of illegal migration and called untiringly for the ideals of peace, dialogue, tolerance and coexistence among the revealed religions to be consolidated.

I recall, with great reverence, the historic visit His Holiness the late Pope Francis paid to Morocco in March 2019. That visit strengthened the foundations of the close and special relations between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Holy See. It was a significant milestone in our common desire to continue enhancing dialogue, understanding and mutual respect between Christians and Muslims. That auspicious visit culminated in the signing by His Holiness Pope Francis and myself of the ‘Jerusalem Declaration’, which calls for guaranteeing the right of the followers of the three monotheistic religions to freely enter the Holy City and perform their religious rituals therein.

I share your grief and pray that Almighty God comfort you, grant you solace and bless the soul of the deceased. To God we belong and to Him shall be our return.

Yours sincerely.”

Netherlands

From King Willem-Alexander & Queen Maxima (Maxima is Catholic):

We are deeply saddened by the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. We have warm memories of our personal audience with him, during our state visit to the Holy See in 2017. Pope Francis radiated mercy in everything he did. With his deep-rooted faith in God’s love, he was the embodiment of benevolence and humanity. Choosing a simple, ascetic way of life, he consistently chose the side of the vulnerable and needy. He was deeply convinced that God works through humility and compassion, and in that spirit he actively sought to build bridges with other religious communities all over the world. He was a committed guardian of the listening and loving Church, and as a result he succeeded in winning the hearts of many, both within the Roman Catholic Church and outside it. We will cherish his memory in gratitude.

Norway

King Harald of Norway

Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re,

Dean of the College of Cardinals

Your Eminence,

I was deeply saddened to learn that His Holiness Pope Francis has passed away. On behalf of myself and the people of Norway, I send you my deepfelt condolences.

Pope Francis was highly respected and loved for being a passionate and clear voice for the most vulnerable in society.

My sympathy is with all Catholics in Norway and around the world on this sad occasion.   

Harald R 

Oman 

His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik has sent a cable of condolences to Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church on the demise of Pope Francis.

In the cable, His Majesty expressed his sincere sympathies to the people of the Vatican and Christians all over the world.

Qatar

Amir Tamin of Qatar

The Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani sent a message of condolence to His Eminence Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, on the death of His Holiness Pope Francis, Pope of the Vatican.

Saudi Arabia

"King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister sent cables of condolences on the death of Pope Francis, head of the Vatican State"

Spain* 

King Felipe of Spain

Most Reverend Eminence:

Upon receiving, with deep sadness, the news of the death of His Holiness Pope Francis, I wish to send you, in my name, in that of the Government and in that of the Spanish people, the testimony of our most heartfelt regret.

His Holiness Pope Francis has testified throughout his pontificate to the importance of love of neighbor, brotherhood and social friendship for the world of our century. We will always be inspired by his conviction of the need to bring encouragement and comfort to the poorest and most needy and the importance he gave to dialogue and consensus to achieve a more just and supportive world.

In the face of pain for his loss, the Queen and the entire Royal Family join me to convey to the entire Catholic Church, our condolences and our affection, as well as our prayers for their eternal rest.

Receive, Most Reverend Eminence, the testimony of my highest

Consideration and esteem.

Felipe R.


Sweden 

King Carl Gustaf of Sweden 

The Queen and I remember Pope Francis with great respect and warmth.

By virtue of his natural charisma, deep humility, and unwavering defense of human dignity, the Pope was a significant leader.

Many in our country particularly appreciated Pope Francis' historic visit to Lund almost ten years ago. We remember with warmth the ecumenical service when Lutherans and Catholics gathered under the arches of the cathedral to leave historical conflicts behind in a spirit of reconciliation and understanding.

The Pope also received the Queen at the Vatican several times to jointly shed light on the many injustices that the world's children are forced to endure. On this day, we look back with gratitude on the Pope's commitment to the world's vulnerable.

Our thoughts go out to Catholics around the world who have lost a great leader and role model.

HM The King

Thailand

-

Tonga

-

United Arab Emirates (UAE)

From Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE:

“I extend my deepest condolences to Catholics around the world on the passing of Pope Francis, who dedicated his life to promoting the principles of peaceful coexistence and understanding. May he rest in peace.”

UK

From King Charles of UK: 

"'My wife and I were most deeply saddened to learn of the death of Pope Francis. Our heavy hearts have been somewhat eased, however, to know that His Holiness was able to share an Easter Greeting with the Church and the world he served with such devotion throughout his life and ministry.

His Holiness will be remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith, and to those of goodwill who work for the benefit of others. His belief that care for Creation is an existential expression of faith in God resounded with so many across the world. Through his work and care for both people and planet, he profoundly touched the lives of so many.

The Queen and I remember with particular affection our meetings with His Holiness over the years and we were greatly moved to have been able to visit him earlier in the month. We send our most heartfelt condolences and profound sympathy to the Church he served with such resolve and to the countless people around the world who, inspired by his life, will be mourning the devastating loss of this faithful follower of Jesus Christ.

Charles R."

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Death & Funeral of Pope Francis (2025)

Canonization 2014-The Canonization of Saint John XXIII and Saint John Paul II (14036966125)
Jeffrey BrunoCC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Pope Francis passed away on April 21st, 2025.  Pope Francis was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of The Holy See (The Vatican) from March 13th, 2013 until his death.

Laying-in-State 

  • Wednesday, April 23rd - Saturday, April 26th
  • At St. Peter’s Basilica

Funeral 

Royals Attending Funeral
Many will announce attendance in advance, but some don’t. More are expected. 
Catholic Monarchies are denoted with an asterisk *
  • Current Monarchy
    • Belgium* 
      • King Philippe & Queen Mathilde
    • Denmark
      • Queen Mary
      • (King Frederik was not able to attend due to his official visit to Japan).
    • Jordan
      • King Abdullah & Queen Rania
    • Lesotho*
      • King Letsie
    • Liechtenstein* 
      • Hereditary Prince Alois (Regent) & Hereditary Princess Sophie
    • Luxembourg*
      • Grand Duke Henri & Grand Duchess Maria Teresa
    • Monaco*
      • Prince Albert & Princess Charlene
    • Morocco
      • Crown Prince Moulay Hassan
    • Netherlands
      • Unable to attend due to Koningsdag celebrations the same day. 
    • Norway
      • Crown Prince Haakon & Crown Princess Mette Marit
      • (King Harald no longer attends international events due to health & mobility issues. Queen Sonja was on sick leave at the time).
    • Spain*
      • King Felipe & Queen Letizia
    • Sweden
      • King Carl Gustaf & Queen Silvia
    • Qatar
      • Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani
      • Sheikh Thani bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani
    • UEA
      • Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi
    • UK
      • Prince William
  • Former Monarchies
    • Prince Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy *
      • Prince Aimone and Princess Olga of Savoy
    • Prince Carlos, Duke of Parma*
    • Prince Pedro & Princess Sofia of Bourbon-Two Sicilies*
      • Prince Jaime of Bourbon-Two Sicilies *
      • Prince Juan of Bourbon-Two Sicilies *
      • Prince Pablo of Bourbon-Two Sicilies *
      • Prince Pedro of Bourbon-Two Sicilies *
      • Princess Sofía of Bourbon-Two Sicilies *
      • Princess Blanca of Bourbon-Two Sicilies *
      • Princess María of Bourbon-Two Sicilies *

Thursday, 10 April 2025

Order of the Golden Lion of the House of Nassau (Luxembourg & Netherlands)

GrandDuc epouse heritier
Disquatufais, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
 
This honor is given out by Luxembourg and Netherlands, as they are two branches of the same royal house (House of Nassau). 

In Luxembourg, this is the country's highest honor. It is bestowed by the Grand Duke and is  awarded to sovereigns, princes of sovereign houses and heads of state for meritorious service to Luxembourg and the Grand Duke.

In the Netherlands, this honor is a a personal gift by the Monarch. The honor is given to members of the royal family and people who has rendered special service to the Royal House.

Grades: 
  • Knight
The honor originally only had one grade, Knight. King William III add more grades in 1873 and another in 1888. These additions were not approved by Prince Adolph, the Duke of Nassau (Later Grand Duke of Luxembourg) and never used in Luxembourg. The extra grades were abolished by Prince Adolph after William III's death. 

Insignia
A knight wears the order's badge on a sash on the right shoulder, and the plaque (breast star) of the order on the left chest.

Order of the Netherlands Lion

Exhibition inside Qasr Al Watan
Matti Blume (CC BY-SA or GFDL), via Wikimedia Commons

The Order of the Netherlands Lion is a order of chivalry founded by William I of the Netherlands in 1815.

The award is given for: Those with merits of a very exceptional nature for society.

Grades

  • Knight Grand Cross
    • Reserved for members of the Royal Family, foreign Heads of State and a select group of former prime ministers, ministers and cardinals. 
    • Child of the monarch are usually given the honor on their 18th Birthday. 
  • Commander
    • Usually conferred upon Dutch Nobel Prize winners, a few distinguished artists, writers and politicians. 
  • Knight 
  • Brother
    • No longer issued. Last awarded in 1960 and abolished in 1994.
Insignia of the Order


Orde van de Nederlandse Leeuw in 2012
Insignia of different grades
Robert Prummel, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The insignia of the Order (from top to down): breast star and badge on sash for the Grand Cross rank, badge suspended on necklet together with breast badge for the Commander rank, and badge on a ribbon for the Knight rank