Royal Guests at the Funeral of King Baudouin of Belgium, 1993

Royal Guests and Relatives from around the world joined the Belgian Royal Family for the Funeral of King Baudouin of Belgium at the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula in Brussels on this day in 1993, 30 years ago, following a Laying-in-State at the Royal Palace of Brussels. The King was interred in the Royal Vault at the Church of Our Lady of Laeken.

The Belgian Royal Family, led by Queen Fabiola along with King Albert II and Queen Paola, were joined by Grand Duke Jean and Grand Duchess Joséphine Charlotte of Luxembourg (sister of the late King) as well as members of the extended Luxembourg Grand Ducal Family.

Also among the family members were the Prince (first cousin of the late King) and Princess of Naples, along with Princess Maria Pia, Princess Maria Gabriella and Princess Maria Beatrice of Savoy as well as Archduke Robert of Austria and Princess Margherita of Savoy, Archduchess of Austria-Este.

The Foreign Royal Guests were led by Queen Elizabeth II, the only foreign royal funeral she ever attended, along with the Duke of Edinburgh, who committed a diplomatic faux pas when he wore the Order of the Leopard from Zaire, a former Belgian Colony, instead of the Belgian Order of Leopold.

Other leading Foreign Royal Guests included King Harald V (a first cousin of the late King) and Queen Sonja of Norway

Emperor Akihito, a close friend of King Baudouin, and Empress Michiko of Japan

King Carl XVI Gustaf, a cousin of the King, and Queen Silvia of Sweden

Queen Margrethe II, a cousin of the late King, and Prince Henrik of Denmark

Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, a close friend of the late King Baudouin, and the Prince of Orange

King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain, who were both close friends of King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola.