Queen's funeral guestlist and who - and who is not - invited to attend
19.09.2022 - 09:09
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
The Queen's state funeral is set to be one of the biggest international events the UK has ever seen.
Around 500 dignitaries from all over the world have been invited to attend, including all of the Commonwealth nations and most heads of state of other allies and nations the UK has a diplomatic relationship with. Invitations to the Queen’s state funeral have not been sent to Syria, Venezuela or Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.
While most countries around the world have been invited to send their head of state, those three countries join Russia, Belarus and Myanmar on the list of nations not asked to send a representative. North Korea, Iran, and Nicaragua have been invited only at ambassadorial level.
READ MORE:Camilla pays heartfelt tribute to the Queen
Members of the Royal Family will, of course, be in attendance, as will representatives of government, including Prime Minister Liz Truss and Leader of the Opposition Keir Starmer. Also invited are representatives of devolved governments, including Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, as well as recipients of the Victoria Cross and George Cross.
Almost 200 people who were recognised in The Queen’s Birthday Honours earlier this year will also join the congregation, including those who made extraordinary contributions to the response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and have volunteered in their local communities.
From overseas, US President Joe Biden was among the first to declare he will be flying in with his wife Jill, as will Canadian president Justin Trudeau. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will make the nearly 24-hour journey with a delegation including Maori King Kiingi Tuheitia.
France’s Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Italy’s Sergio Mattarella,