Queen Sofía wears a Remembrance Day poppy in tribute to Prince Philip, her father's cousin (photo by the Royal Household on Twitter, @CasaReal)
ROYALS across Europe – and the world – have been paying homage to the late Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, following his passing just two months before his 100th birthday; but in the case of Spain's 'Queen Mother', it was not just a mark of respect.
HRH Sofía de Borbón y Grecia – who retains the title of 'Queen' even though her son is now on the throne following his father, Juan Carlos I's abdication in 2014 – is Prince Philip's second cousin.
With Queen Sofía being a Spanish Royal and the Duke of Edinburgh being British, it is often forgotten that they are both, in fact, Greek.
Prince Philip is the son of Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark, whose father was King George I (King Georgios I) of Greece, mother was Olga Constantinovna of Russia, and grandfather was King Christian IX of Denmark.
Queen Sofía is from Psykhikó, in the suburbs of Athens, the daughter of Paul I (Pavlos I) of Greece and the Hanover-born Queen Federica.
King George II of Greece was Sofía's uncle, King Pavlos' brother, and their father was King Constantine I (Konstantinos I) and grandfather was King George I.
So the Duke of Edinburgh, and Queen Sofía's dad, are cousins – and Prince Philip was born in Mon Repos on the Greek island of Corfu.
But the late Consort and lifelong companion to Queen Elizabeth II lived in the UK from a very young age.
And Queen Sofía's silent homage to her father's cousin was very much in line with a long-running British tradition – she wore a paper poppy in her lapel.
The poppy, part of the Royal British Legion's emblem and a symbol used to commemorate those who lost their lives in combat during World War I, is worn in the UK and by Brits abroad on November 11 – Armistice Day in France, and a public holiday, and called Remembrance Day in Britain, although it is a normal working day.
Small paper poppies with a plastic stalk designed to be worn as a buttonhole are typically sold for a nominal price in the run-up to November 11 each year, with funds going to charities supporting injured service personnel and the families of those who do not survive.
Outside the UK, the tradition is not followed, and people from Spain would not necessarily know what it meant.
The Royal family and the forces take part in a Remembrance Day parade every year, where members of the public can join in, wearing their own medals or uniforms if they are, or have been, service personnel, or wearing those of their deceased relatives.
France does likewise, in Paris, although with its president and prime minister as it is a republic rather than a monarchy.
And last time around, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Harry and Meghan, did so in their home city of Los Angeles, California.
Queen Sofía of Spain is known for her understated gestures, for working hard in the background away from the cameras – since her rôle of Queen Consort ended seven years ago, she has spent most of her time focusing on the numerous charities she either founded or is patron of, occasionally snapped in the act despite not having announced it to the four winds, such as last summer when she joined large groups of volunteers clearing up rubbish on a Costa del Sol beach, on their hands and knees stuffing bin-bags, royalty included.
Thus, her not having made a major public statement or issued a high-profile message of condolence to Queen Elizabeth II and the rest of Prince Philip's family, but instead discreetly attaching a poppy to her jacket, is very in keeping with Queen Sofía's style.
She wore it during a video conference for International Parkinson's Day, where she joined members of the Parkinson's Federation at her office in the Zarzuela Palace – sitting distanced and wearing masks, even though Queen Sofía has now had both doses of the Covid vaccine.
