Juan Carlos, Sofia, Albert and Paola at the Vatican for the canonisation of Pope John Paul II and Pope John XXIII on April 27th 2014
The queens have both chosen to wear white - under the privilege du blanc, the queens of Catholic countries are entitled to wear white at Papal events. The royals are sat together at the ceremony and were seen talking before the event got under way.
Queen Sofia and King Juan Carlos in Rome for the canonisation of John Paul II and John XXIII
As well as two kings and two queens, there are two popes present at the ceremony as Francis I has been joined by the Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI, for the double canonisation. It is the first time that a pope has been made a saint since 1954 when Pius X was canonised.
King Albert and Queen Paola in Rome on April 27th 2014
The two kings present for the ceremony have been witnesses to papal history for two decades, with both at the funeral of Pope John Paul II in 2005 when calls for him to be canonised immediately filled St Peter's Square. Their queens sat alongside them that day and now four royals who heard the cries of 'Santo Subito' on that April day nine years ago have returned to witness his canonisation, the fastest in modern history.
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