Royals attend 81st United Nations General Assembly

The General Debate of the UNGA81 has come to a close. Learn about which royals were in New York City this week and the various meetings they attended. 

“UN Week” in New York City has concluded with royals from around the world taking part in various high-level meetings, forums, panels and a number addressing the General Debate. Learn about some of the 71 Heads of State, 45 Heads of Government, 50 Ministers, 11 Vice-Presidents and two Crown Princes who visited on behalf of their respective countries.

• Belgium

Photo: UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

Queen Mathilde of Belgium participated in the UNGA81 in her capacity as Advocate for the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG Advocate), a position she has held since 2016. The Queen is always one of the most active participants in UN Week, and 2026 was no different. Queen Mathilde began her week on Sunday, when she met various officials and paid her respects at the National September 11 Memorial.

Throughout the week, Queen Mathilde spoke at the ‘Protection of Children in Digital World’ — a wide-ranging event on the protection of children in the digital world, organised by the Permanent Mission of Türkiye to the United Nations.

• Brunei

Photo: UN Photo/Loey Felipe

Prince Abdul Mateen was accompanied by Princess Anisha in New York. The past few days held particular meaning for the Prince as it was his first high-level week as the newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs. In addition to attending the General Debate, Prince Abdul Mateen met with Turkish and Russian Foreign Ministers.

• Eswatini

Photo: UN Photo/Loey Felipe

King Mswati III attended the UNGA81 this week as Eswatini’s head of state. The King addressed the General Debate and renewed the call for a permanent African seat on the UN Security Council and later met with UN Secretary-General António Guterres. 

• Jordan

Photo: UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

King Abdullah II was accompanied by Queen Rania and Crown Prince Al Hussein during the UNGA81. The King gave a strongly worded address to the General Debate where he “warned of the dangers of leaving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict unresolved” while noting the “world’s longest-running occupation forces” in Gaza. His Majesty called out the “forced displacement” of Palestinians and spoke about how the “scale of knowledge and the speed of change are unprecedented” in our modern era.

Photo: Royal Hashemite Court

Queen Rania carried on the topic of Palestinian suffering during a speech where Her Majesty condemned Israel’s military detention of Palestinian children on Tuesday. The Queen highlighted the “harrowing conditions” child detainees experience in Israeli incarceration, per Queen Rania’s office.

Photo: Royal Hashemite Court

Crown Prince Al Hussein held several high-level meetings on the margins of the UNGA81, including with Estonian President Alar Karis and Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin.

• Kuwait

Photo: UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al Hamad Al Sabah of Kuwait represented Kuwait on behalf of Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. The Crown Prince attended the General Debate and several bilateral meetings, including with Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday.

• Lesotho

King Letsie III attended throughout UN Week. The King spoke at several discussions on topics that he has championed over the years, including nutrition, at the “Our Children Cannot Wait” panel.

• Liechtenstein

Photo: IKR

Hereditary Prince Alois and Hereditary Princess Sophie attended the General Debate on Tuesday and held various meetings throughout the week.

• Luxembourg

Photo: UN Photo/Laura Jarriel

Grand Duke Guillaume had a packed week as his first in his capacity as Luxembourg’s head of state. The Grand Duke addressed the UN, noting his country’s efforts to aid Ukraine against “Russia’s war” while adding, “peace requires constant effort, and that the principles on which the international order is built must be defended.”

• The Netherlands 

Photo: UN Photo/Laura Jarriel

Queen Máxima of the Netherlands has been attending several high-level meetings throughout the week. On Thursday, the Queen, accompanied by Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten, Mr Arthur Dowers, Minister of Justice, Integration, Public Transport and Energy of Aruba, and Mr Claret Connor, Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour of Sint Maarten, met with UN Secretary-General António Guterres. According to a UN Spokesperson, they discussed the climate crisis and the implementation of the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for Small Island Developing States, and the Sustainable Development Goals.

• Saudi Arabia

Photo: UN Photo/Laura Jarriel

Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud represented King Salman in New York this week. In addition to attending the General Debate, Prince Faisal attended a high-level meeting of Arab and Islamic leaders, including King Abdullah of Jordan, the Emir of Qatar, and Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed (AbZ).

• United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (AbZ) attended, on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, in his capacity as Deputy Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates. In addition to meeting with Arab and Islamic leaders, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed also met with, among others, Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun.

• Qatar

Photo: UN Photo/Loey Felipe

The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, attended the UNGA once again this year. The Emir addressed the UN General Assembly, focusing heavily on the crisis in the Gulf region, which, due to the “cumulative result of years of postponing crisis management through temporary solutions and unrealistic policies“, should “come as no surprise to anyone.”

We have previously called — from this very podium — for the establishment of such a system, and we reiterate that call after recent events have demonstrated the urgent need for it. In its absence, it has become possible for a war to erupt on the basis of considerations unrelated to the interests of the countries of the region; and it has become possible for one party to drag its neighbors into a war that is not theirs, targeting their vital assets and installations despite their strenuous efforts to avert escalation; and for an international waterway — through which nearly a quarter of the world’s energy trade passes — to be closed. — Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad