Page 35 - Queen Mathilde News Today

European royals turned out for the funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI held in St Peters Square at the Vatican City. The 95-year-old Pontif died on Saturday in the Vatican monastery

As is traditional for pontiffs, the body of the Pope emeritus will be placed in three separate coffins, the first of cypress wood, which in turn goes in a zinc coffin and then a second wooden casket.

The Vatican has announced that the funeral of Pope Benedict XVI will be a “solemn but simple” ceremony, reflecting the wishes of the deceased Pontiff.

The UKs highest representative at the funeral of controversial Pope Benedict XVI will be Education Secretary Gillian Keegan - with no members of the royal family expected to attend.

Could it be that the Vatican didn’t want present at the funeral a man who so cynically uses the Catholic faith to get votes, while ignoring its actual content?

The simple service, which will be presided over by Pope Francis on Thursday, is set to commemorate the former Catholic leader who died at the age of 95 on New Years Eve.

A number of royal families have confirmed their plans to attend the event on Thursday in St Peters Square in Vatican City, presided over by Pope Francis.

The traditional event in Brussels saw the 21-year-old join her brother Prince Emmanuel, 17, her sister Princess Eléonore, 14 and her parents, King Philippe, 62, and Queen Mathilde.

The traditional event in Brussels saw the 21-year-old join her brother Prince Emmanuel, 17, her sister Princess Eléonore, 14 and her parents, King Philippe, 62, and Queen Mathilde.

King Abdullah IIs nephew Talal El-Saleh and his fiancée Danah announced their engagement at the end of November and recently held an engagement ceremony in Jordan.