Not all world leaders were invited to the Queen’s funeral

President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska, Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin and President Michael Higgins, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Italian President Sergio Mattarella and French President Emmanuel Macron, as well as members of royal families from across the world are among important guests expected for today.

But not everybody was invited to join Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral service, mostly due to sanctions imposed since the beginning of the war in Ukraine.

Here are some of the names that didn’t make it to the guest list: President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, the Russian President Vladimir Putin, diplomats from Syria, Venezuela, Afghanistan and Myanmar, North Korea’s Leader Kim Jong Un and Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi.

Nevertheless, ambassadors from North Korea, Nicaragua and Iran will be permitted to attend the ceremonies.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Saudi Arabia’s crown prince Mohammed Bin Salman received invites but are not expected to participate.

The Queen's coffin will be moved today from the Palace of Westminster to Westminster Abbey where the funeral will take place.

Queen Elizabeth II, a remarkable personality with a long and fruitful 70-year reign, loved by her people and highly appreciated by diplomats all over the globe, died on September 8 2022. Her funerals are scheduled for today, starting 11am.

 

source: thehill.com