Queen Letizia and King Felipe VI led the mourners at the funeral of the Spanish king’s first cousin, Juan Gómez-Acebo, in Madrid on Sunday.
Juan died on August 12 at the age of 54 after a battle with cancer, less than six months after his younger brother, Fernando Gómez-Acebo, passed away at the age of 49.
Juan’s funeral, which took place at the Cathedral of the Armed Forces in the Spanish capital, was also attended by King Felipe’s parents, former monarch Juan Carlos I, 86, and Queen Sofia, 85.
According to Spanish publication All AlicanteJuan, who was the son of Infanta Pilar and Luis Gómez-Acebo, kept a low profile working as a painter after studying Fine Arts.
Before his death, Juan had a relationship with the architect Teresa Véret. He also had a son, Nicholas, aged 11, from his first marriage to Winston Holmes Carney.
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain (pictured) attended the funeral of the Spanish king’s cousin, Juan Gómez-Acebo, in Madrid on Sunday
Queen Letizia, 51, wore a demure black A-line dress with puffed sleeves for the solemn occasion.
Spain’s Queen Sofia (pictured), 85, mother of King Felipe, was also present at the Cathedral of the Armed Forces in Madrid.
Walking arm in arm, Queen Letizia and King Felipe were greeted by royal fans hoping to get a photograph of the royal couple.
Both the King and Queen, along with the other mourners, were dressed in black for the solemn occasion.
Tanned after the Spanish royal family’s annual summer vacation in Mallorca, Queen Letizia, 51, wore a demure black A-line dress with puffed sleeves, which she accessorized with a pearl necklace.
She added a pair of black patent leather heels and a small leather handbag.
The mother of two wore her shoulder-length brown hair swept to one side and behind her ears to reveal a pair of silver and pearl earrings.
King Felipe, 56, meanwhile, looked dapper in a black suit, white shirt and black tie.
Queen Sofia of Spain looked equally formal in a long black pleated skirt and a black jacket with embroidery around the shoulders, which she paired with black block-heeled shoes.
The elegant mother of King Felipe wore three pearl necklaces around her neck and a pair of delicate earrings, as well as numerous bracelets on her right wrist.
Her husband, Juan Carlos I, who used a cane, chose a navy blue suit to pay his last respects to Juan Gómez-Acebo.
King Juan Carlos I (pictured), 86, attended the funeral of his nephew Juan Gómez-Acebo, who died aged 54 after a battle with cancer
King Juan Carlos I used a cane and was supported as he entered the cathedral.
The former Spanish monarch, who abdicated in 2016, wore a navy blue suit for the sombre occasion.
Princess Anne of Bourbon-Two Sicilies (right), 85, and her daughter Princess Christina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies (left), attended the funeral on Sunday.
King Juan Carlos I was photographed greeting another mourner at his nephew’s funeral
Among the mourners gathered at Madrid’s Armed Forces Cathedral were Princess Anne of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, 85, and her daughter Princess Christina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies.
The daughters of the King and Queen, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia, were not present.
It was not until April that Queen Letizia and King Felipe attended the funeral of Juan’s younger brother, Fernando Gómez-Acebo, who died at the age of 49 on March 1 from Covid-19.
The royal couple looked somber as they paid their respects to King Felipe’s cousin at mass in Madrid’s Castrense Cathedral.
Fernando was a first cousin of the Spanish monarch and nephew of King Juan Carlos.
He was the youngest son of Infanta Pilar and Luis Gómez-Acebo.
When King Felipe and Queen Letizia arrived at the funeral mass, they were greeted by a crowd of people who greeted them.
There was an air of melancholy as they walked hand in hand through the cathedral grounds.
Queen Letizia wore a fitted black dress with details at the waist and cuffs for the occasion.
Crowds gathered near the Armed Forces Cathedral in the Spanish capital, with royal fans hoping to get a photo of the King and Queen.
Queen Letizia complemented her demure dress with a pearl necklace and a matching pair of earrings.
The 51-year-old mother of two wore black patent leather heels and carried a small handbag.
King Felipe wore a black suit with a white shirt and black tie for the occasion.
Walking arm in arm, the royal couple appeared to greet spectators in Madrid
Queen Letizia wore her shoulder-length brown hair loose and slicked back behind her ears to reveal a pair of pearl earrings.
King Felipe and Queen Letizia bowed their heads as they paid their respects.
Queen Sofia of Spain complemented her black outfit with three strands of pearls and numerous bracelets.
She accessorized her outfit with a black leather handbag and a stunning pearl brooch.
Queen Letizia opted for subtle makeup and wore her brown hair in a simple style.
King Felipe VI paid tribute to his cousin with a navy blue double-breasted blazer and matching trousers. He paired the suit with an elegant white shirt and black tie.
Fernando’s funeral came shortly after another poignant event for the Spanish royal family: a memorial service for victims of terrorism.
At the commemorative event in honour of the nearly 200 victims of the 2004 Madrid train attack, Queen Letizia looked sophisticated in a long-sleeved navy blue dress.
The royal accessorized her outfit with matching kitten heels and a leather clutch for the event, which took place at Spain’s Royal Collection Gallery.
