Guests attend ‘the reception of the century’ at Buckingham Palace as they pay their respects ahead of the Queen‘s funeral tomorrow in one of the largest gatherings of world leaders seen in recent years.
King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla greeted US President Joe Biden, who arrived in a private car, and President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte, for was a glittering but somber event not seen since the death of Queen Elizabeth II’s father George VI in 1952, more than 70 years ago.
President of Ireland Michael D Higgins was seen being dropped off from a coach along with the former King and Queen Consort of Spain, Juan Carlos and Sofia and Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, before the British royal couple met hundreds of dignitaries, including New Zealand’s prime minister Jacinda Ardern and Canadian premier Justin Trudeau.
Senior members of the British royal family, ambassadors from almost all nations, and foreign royals including Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and the Kings and Queens from Holland, Norway and Belgium were also arriving this evening.
Many dignitaries had already been viewing the Queen’s coffin in the ancient heart of Parliament after being given a VIP timeslot as ordinary mourners who have queued through the night pay their respects with leaders of the free world.
The Prime Minister Liz Truss and Government ministers including Jacob Rees-Mogg and James Cleverly were also spotted heading towards tonight’s glittering state reception which took place in the picture gallery and state apartments and featured drinks and canapes.
Many have also compared the state funeral of the Queen, which will see 1,000s world leaders attend, to Nelson Mandela’s memorial service in 2013 in South Africa which had to take place in a stadium due to the huge amount of world mourners.
On your knees peasants: Secrets behind royal’s £20bn wealth revealed: William is worth £1bn, while Meghan and Harry boast £20m fortune and even Andrew has £5m – while family has staggering £16bn property portfolio (and all these figures are wild underestimates)
The Royal Family’s £20billion-plus fortune of cash, palaces, treasure, art, 500,000-plus acres of land and even the UK sea bed is laid bare today – making The Firm worth more than Tesco, Britain’s biggest retailer at £17billion.
King Charles III is now expected to be worth £900million after the death of his beloved mother – while his son William is predicted by The Sunday Times to now be worth £1billion after inheriting his father’s Duchy of Cornwall estate.
Harry and Meghan are estimated to be worth £20million, although brand experts have said that their new life in the US, coupled with their royal connection, could earn them $1billion one day. Princess Anne could be worth £50million, Prince Edward £10million and Prince Andrew £5million despite his own recent legal bills.
The Royal Family’s cash and assets has been estimated to be between £20billion and £24billion, although this includes £1.4billion of property such as Buckingham Palace, which only belongs to the monarch in an official capacity. The Crown Estate is worth £16.5billion.
The Queen’s death has sparked fresh debate about the tax advantages granted to the sovereign’s private wealth. Supporters of the 1993 deal argue it is important the monarch has ‘sufficient private resources’.
This is because Charles is expected to be spared paying inheritance tax on his mother’s £400million fortune.
Here is a breakdown of the royals’ wealth:
