Kiss Kiss: The Queen Hosts a Luncheon

It’s rare to see Queen Elizabeth being hugged and kissed, but I suppose if you are a fellow potentate, you can get away with such chumminess. A grand total of 62 royals – including 12 queens, 12 kings, an emperor, a grand duke, and a sultan – gathered at Windsor Castle yesterday to lunch with Her Majesty. It’s been at least 10 years since this many crowned heads of state were in one room – the last time being at the Queen Mother’s funeral in 2002. There was a particularly affectionate greeting for Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands, who along with Denmark’s Queen Margrethe is one of only three reigning female sovereigns in the world. That’s her, top left. It’s sweet that they’re such close friends, isn’t it? Also fascinating: the always-monochromatic First Lady of Qatar Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser al-Missned with her husband the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani (below, left). LOVE THEM. And I’ve never noticed Princess Lalla Meryem of Morocco before (below, right). SHE’S STUNNING. And the Emporer and Empress of Japan – I just want to give them a big old bear hug, then stuff them in my pockets and take them home.

The Emir and First Lady of Qatar; Princess Lalla Mayerm of Morocco

Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan; Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg

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The Grand Duke of Luxembourg kisses the Queen; Queen Margrethe of Denmark greets Prince Philip

The new Princess of Monoco knows her place – she gives a deep curtsy, while her husband Prince Albert shakes the Prince's hand; Charlene chats up Kate; The Earl and Countess of Wessex chat with King Abdullah II and Queen Rania of Jordan