After 16 days of cheering on their nations’ athletes, royals from around the world joined in with the rest of the world with saying farewell to the Beijing Olympics. They did this first with a banquet, and then by attending the closing ceremonies.
Before the closing events, 27 royals and statesmen gathered at a banquet lunch hosted by Chinese President Hu Jintao. Spain’s Infanta Cristina and her husband Inaki Urdangarin were among the guests at the event, held at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.
President Hu made a toast in honor of the success of the Games.
“The success of the Beijing Olympic Games is attributable to the concerted efforts of the Chinese people and people from the rest of the world.”
Later, royals such as King Carl Gustaf of Sweden, and his wife Queen Silvia, joined tens of thousands of others at the Olympic Stadium, known as the Birds Nest, to watch the closing ceremonies.
The ceremonies said good-bye to Beijing, but also geared up the excitement for the next Olympics in London.
In the UK, thousands gathered outside of Buckingham Palace to watch the handover ceremony.
The Royal Air Force even flew over the Palace, with the colors of the British flag trailing behind them.
Prince Harry was on the rooftop of Buckingham Palace, watching all the excitement.
London will host the next Summer Olympics in 2012. And there will be no doubt a lot of royals attending that one!
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