Queen Letizia and King Felipe of Spain greet prime minister Pedro Sanchez amid reports his government asked Felipe’s disgraced father King Juan Carlos not to attend the Queen’s funeral

• Queen Letizia and King Felipe of Spain were professional at an event in Madrid
• They appeared to greet Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez warmly  
• King Juan Carlos I has reportedly been asked not to go to the Queen’s funeral 
• The former king is awaiting trial in the UK for a harassment case in 2014
• Full coverage: Click here to see all our coverage of the Queen’s passing

King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain are continuing with their royal duties amid an alleged row over whether King Juan Carlos should attend the Queen’s funeral.

The royal couple met with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez – whose government has reportedly asked King Felipe’s father Carlos not to travel to London -last night as they attended the Museo de Reina Sofia (Queen Sofia museum) in Madrid.

Last night saw the opening ceremony of a year of commemorative acts to pay tribute to the life and work of Spanish artist Pablo Picasso, who died 50 years ago. 

King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia (pictured) remained composed and professional as they attended the Museo de Reina Sofía to mark the beginning of a year of activities to commemorate Pablo Picasso

The Queen, 49, and King, 54, appeared polite and warm as they greeted Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez after his government asked former King Juan Carlos, Felipe’s father, not to attend the funeral of the Queen in London next week

King Juan Carlos I, a cousin of Queen Elizabeth II, was invited to the late monarch’s funeral by Buckingham Palace, but the Spanish government has reportedly asked him not to attend

Letizia once again championed the high street in a Massimo Dutti white leather midi dress with embroidery and tied at the waist, which she paired with red stiletto pumps from Magrit shoes and a red crocodile-print clutch bag from Carolina Herrera.

Her brunette locks were worn down by her shoulders and tucked behind one ear to show off her teardrop earrings containing blue, green and red gems.  

The King and Queen, 54 and 49, were professional as ever as they shook hands with the prime minister despite reports the government has privately asked the former king to stay away, for fear he will overshadow the current monarch. 

In a row that could drive a wedge between the Spanish government and monarchy, the government has reportedly made it clear they wish for King Felipe VI to be the Spanish representative at the state funeral, as his father currently awaits trial in the UK for a harassment case involving an ex-partner.

El Debate reported 84-year-old King Juan Carlos, the late Queen’s cousin, was privately contacted by Spanish government officials a few days ago to ask him not to attend the service.

The King and Queen of Spain looked elegant as ever as they attended the opening ceremony of the Picasso Year celebrations

Queen Letizia looked chic in a white dress which was tied at the waist, red slingback stiletto pumps and a red clutch bag

The Queen wore her brunette locks down by her shoulders and tucked behind one ear which showed off her teardrop earrings

Queen Letixia opted for a smoky eye and dark lipstick, with a touch of bronzer to show off her natural beauty

The Queen looked deep in conversation with officials as she attended the inaugural event in the Spanish capital, Madrid

The Spanish government has asked King Emeritus Juan Carlos I, the late Queen’s cousin and former king of Spain, not to attend Her Majesty’s state funeral amid a regal row

The funeral of Queen Elizabeth II will be held on September 19 at Westminster Abbey at 11am, it has been announced — with Spanish media driving a wave of speculation over whether Juan Carlos, known as the King Emeritus (Rey Emérito), will attend.

Juan Carlos I, who abdicated the Spanish throne in 2014, is awaiting trial in the UK after the country’s High Court ruled he does not have the right to Sovereign Immunity in a case involving the alleged harassment of his ex-lover.

He is facing claims he sent Spanish agents to Britain to harass and threaten his former lover and German businesswoman Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein, 58, who alleges that his servants broke into her Knightsbridge flat to spy on her.

The King allegedly demanded the return of gifts he had given her when their tryst ended, souring the relationship. 

Prosecutors in Switzerland and Spain shelved cases last year after investigated him for suspected money laundering and tax evasion over a separate $100million payment from the Saudi Arabian government.

But the harassment case remains open in the UK — with the royal attempting to appeal the ruling denying him immunity from prosecution because of his regal status. 

Carlos had a series of affairs during his time on the Spanish thrones, including in the back of a van parked behind the Oriente Palace, according to a new HBO docu-series.

It’s not the only scandal the former monarch is embroiled in. Spanish investigators are also looking into a missing €600,000 (£520,000) allegedly taken by a close Mexican friend of Juan Carlos I.

Queen Elizabeth II is pictured with King Juan Carlos at the Oriente Palace

Queen Elizabeth ll greets King Juan Carlos of Spain with a kiss during a State Visit on April 22, 1986 in London

The Earl of Wessex, the Duke of York, King Charles III, the Queen Consort, the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence attend a Service of Prayer and Reflection for the Life of Queen Elizabeth II at St Giles’ Cathedral, Edinburgh

Despite once counting himself among the world’s most popular monarchs, polling showed that approximately two-thirds of Spain wanted the king to abdicate when he stepped down — underlining how quickly public opinion can shift. 

Juan Carlos returned to Spain for a brief visit in 2022 but has spent the past two years living in exile in Abu Dhabi.

All the trips of Don Juan Carlos makes abroad are carefully observed by Spanish officials, according to El Mundo, with the government keenly aware of the history the monarchy has played in shaping the state.

‘Currently the head of state is Felipe VI and that, like his father, he also represents the existing family ties between the two royal houses,’ said foreign minister José Manuel Albares in an interview over the weekend, pushing back on the idea that there was any issue with the previous monarch coming to London.

Court papers accuse Juan Carlos of using spies to place Ms zu Sayn-Wittgenstein under surveillance, to hack her phones and internet, mount a campaign of smears and issue death threats. (She is pictured in Monaco in 2014, six months after Juan Carlos abdicated)

Spanish President Pedro Sanchez is pictured speaking in a press conference. His government has pushed back on recent reports that it does not wish for Juan Carlos I to travel to the UK for the Queen’s state funeral

Albares hopes the Spanish Government will continue to have ‘the closest possible relationship’ with the UK after the death of the Queen, calling it ‘a very important country for Europe’ after the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union, he said.

But the Spanish foreign minister questioned the UK and Spain’s arrangement over Gibraltar, however, a UK territory annexed from Spain in 1704, with the minister claiming that the ‘relationship model’ between the two countries ‘has no place’ there after Brexit.

Queen Elizabeth died at the age of 96 on Thursday, Buckingham Palace announced, marking the end of a reign that saw close relations between the Windsors and the Bourbons. 

Felipe IV, Queen Letizia, as well as Queen Sofía — the former Queen of Spain and wife of Juan Carlos — have also received their corresponding invitations from Windsor.

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