By Maria Puente, USA TODAY

(USA Today) - Maybe monarchs are not such an endangered species after all?

PHOTOS - William and Kate at lunch with monarchs 

Dozens of sovereigns from 26 monarchies around the world - some 45 kings, queens, princes, emperors, sultans and sheikhs - turned up for lunch at Windsor Castle today to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee.

Twelve members of the queen's family, including young stars Prince William and his wife, Catherine Duchess of Cambridge, and brother Prince Harry, also were there, dining on Windsor lamb, asparagus and strawberries.

The former Kate Middleton wore a blush pink pleated, wool crepe coat dress by Emilia Wickstead and Prada satin shoes, according to one of the blogs that follow Duchess Kate's fashion.

It was the largest gathering of foreign royals in Britain, outside of last year's royal wedding, in years. But it was controversial. Protests erupted because the king of Bahrain was invited at a time when his Gulf state has been engaged in a brutal crackdown on political dissent, according to the Associated Press and British media reports. The king was there anyway; last year, his son was invited to the wedding but stayed away because of protests.

Also, the Spanish king and queen didn't come to lunch either, even though Queen Sofia is a cousin to the queen's husband Prince Philip. But the Spanish are upset that Britain continues to hang on to Gibraltar, the tiny British territory on the southern tip of Spain across from North Africa at the entrance to the Mediterranean.

The BBC had the full guest list. Of note: Another newlywed royal pair were there, Prince Albert and his wife, Princess Charlene, of Monaco, who wed soon after Will and Kate but with far less media attention

USA Today