King Charles III Hosted A Biggest Reception in Decades for World Leaders at Buckingham Palace

Dubbed the "reception of the century", His Majesty King Charles III hosted the biggest reception ever for world leaders, including foreign royals at Buckingham Palace on the eve of the Queen's state funeral.

His Majesty was supported by the senior working members of the royal family, his wife, Camilla, the Queen Consort, the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, the Princess Royal (accompanied by her husband, Vice Admiral Tim Laurence), and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.

King Charles III received British Prime Minister Liz Truss in the drawing room of Buckingham Palace

The foreign dignitaries and world royals arrived in London ahead of the Queen's state funeral. Before the palace reception, they paid their respects to the Queen's lying-in-state at Westminster Hall.

Dressed in black, they began arriving in coaches at 5:00 in the afternoon before making their way to the Grand Entrance of Buckingham Palace.

King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, a third cousin of the Queen, arrived in the reception with his wife, Queen Silvia

Foreign dignitaries were led by US President Joe Biden, who came with his wife, First Lady Jill Biden. Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, French President, Emmanuel Macron accompanied by his wife, Birgitte Macron, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, and British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who arrived with her husband, Hugh O'Leary, were among the most prominent politicians who attended the reception.

US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden were greeted by Master of the Household Sir Tony Johnstone-Burt

US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden pulled up in the presidential car, dubbed The Beast, a £1.3m Cadillac with armored plating, in a convoy of other vehicles. 

Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska also attended the reception to represent her husband, Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Former King of Spain Juan Carlos arrived in Buckingham Palace with his wife, Queen Sofia

President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins, arrived on a coach with the former King and Queen Consort of Spain, Juan Carlos and Sofia. The king emeritus of Spain stirred an international hoopla ahead of the event due to the Spanish government's protest, asking him not to attend the event.

However, King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia were not invited by Buckingham Palace as representatives of Spain but as third cousins of Queen Elizabeth II.

King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia arrived in the reception separate from his parents

King Abdullah II of Jordan and Queen Rania

The world royals we spotted arriving at Buckingham palace

• Denmark - Queen Margrethe and her son, Crown Prince Frederik
• Sweden - King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia
• The Netherlands - King Willem-Alexander, Queen Maxima, Princess Beatrix of Orange (former Queen Beatrix)
• Belgium - King Philippe and Queen Mathilde
• Luxembourg- Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa
• Monaco - Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene
• Jordan - King Abdullah II, Queen Rania, and their son, Crown Prince Hussein
• Norway - King Harald V and Queen Sonja
• Kuwait - Crown Prince Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah
• Qatar - Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and his wife, Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim Al-Thani
• Bahrain - King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Prime Minister, Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa
• Oman - Sultan Haitham bin Tarik
• UAE - Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (left), vice president, prime minister, and minister of defence of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He was accompanied by Reem Ebrahim Al-Hashimi , minister of State for International Cooperation 
• Lesotho - King Letsie III
• Japan - Emperor Naruhito
• Bhutan - King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema
• Spain - King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia with King emeritus Juan Carlos and his wife Queen Sofia in a private capacity
• Romania - Crown Princess Margarita and her husband Prince Radu
• Greece - Queen Anne-Marie and her son, Crown Prince Pavlos

Kuwait Crown Prince Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan

Qatar Emir and his wife

Dubai ruler and UAE VP Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum accompanied by Reem Al-Hashimi

Biggest Security Challenge in London

The reception was not only dubbed the "reception of the century", but the presence of more than 500 world leaders and foreign royals in London also posed the biggest security challenge for authorities in the United Kingdom to keep them safe while in London.

King Philippe of Belgium and Queen Mathilde

King of Bhutan (right) and his wife, Queen Jetsun Pema

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark and Crown Prince Frederik

Another challenge is the sheer size of the crowds expected to gather around Westminster Abbey and along the route, the coffin will travel after the funeral, past Buckingham Palace to Hyde Park. From there it will be taken by hearse about 20 miles to Windsor, where another 2,000 police officers will be on duty.

The Queen is due to be interred in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle alongside her husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, who died in April last year. Prince Philip's coffin was interred at the royal crypt beneath St. George's Chapel waiting to join the Queen at King George VI Memorial Chapel, which did not take long, just 17 months apart.

world leaders arrived at Buckingham Palace for the reception

Today, we're preparing to bid goodbye to the beloved Queen whose legacy and iconic presence in the world spanned seven decades. 

Most Britons only knew the Queen as their monarch, especially those who were born after 1952. Thus, the Queen's image was such a huge part in the life of the British people, and those in the Commonwealth Realms where she was the head of state.

Despite the closed chapter of her extraordinary reign, she will never be forgotten. Her enduring legacy, her dedication to public service, and her influence. We will always remember Her Majesty. May she rest in eternal peace.

Ahead of the state funeral, the Royal Family released this never before seen photo of the Queen