Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-serving British monarch, will be laid to rest on Monday, September 19 at Westminster Abbey. The event will take place at 11am according to official sources.
A host of up to 500 heads of state and dignitaries have been invited to the function that will be the biggest official gathering on the U.K soil in recent history.
According to the royal.uk, the venue can hold up to 2,000 people among them the Royal Family, world leaders, politicians, public figures, European royals, and those who worked closely with the Queen.
Apart from members of royal families across Europe who are expected to be at the occasion, Belgium’s King Philippe and Queen Mathilde have confirmed they will be there. King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and his wife, Queen Maxima, along with his mother, former Dutch queen Princess Beatrix is also expected to be present.
Reports from White House indicate that President Joe Biden will attend the function along with First Lady Jill Biden. All other foreign dignitaries have been asked to fly in on commercial flights and be bused from the various airports to the venue. President Biden and his wife, however, will not travel to the venue by bus.
Leaders from across the Commonwealth, where the Queen served as the ceremonial head of state, are also expected to attend. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has accepted an invitation, so have New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Similarly, a number of governors-general who serve as the representative of the monarch in the Commonwealth jurisdictions are expected to attend the function alongside their countries’ leaders. Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe have confirmed attendance. India, world’s largest democracy, will be represented by President Droupadi Murmu.
South Africa is the only African country that received invitation to the function; President Cyril Ramaphosa has confirmed attendance. The Queen’s death was received with mixed reactions in Africa where her image represents an era of domination, slave labour and horrendous human rights abuse perpetrated by the British Empire. The Queen’s coffin was taken to Westminster Hall today where it will lie in state until 6:30am on Monday when it will be taken to Westminster Abbey for burial.
