President Droupadi Murmu to attend Queen’s funeral in London. Will Modi go? Who else is invited?
It is the end of an important chapter in world history. Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral on Monday, 19 September, will be attended by royalty, politicians from the United Kingdom, presidents and prime ministers from across the globe, and leading public figures. It is likely to be the largest gathering of world leaders in decades.
Invitations were sent out over the weekend and some 500 heads of state and foreign dignitaries are expected to fly to London to bid a final farewell to the monarch. The elaborate ceremony, replete with tradition, will be held at Westminster Abbey, which can house up to 2,200 people. This is the first full state funeral that the country will host since former prime minister Winston Churchill died in 1965.
President Droupadi Murmu will visit London from 17 September to 19 September to attend the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II and offer condolences on behalf of the Indian government, the Ministry of External Affairs announced on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi too received an invitation but there is no word yet on whether he will be attending the ceremony.
On 8 September, after the Queen’s death, in a tribute, the PM wrote that he will “never forget her warmth and kindness”.
Commonwealth countries
Leaders from across the Commonwealth, which the Queen served during her reign, will be in attendance.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe have accepted invitations.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will be flying to London.
The three nations are part of the Commonwealth realm – a group of 14 countries that recognise the British monarch as their head of the state. They have announced Charles III who succeeded his mother as their king.
Other Asian nations
South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol has accepted the invitation. Japan’s emperor and empress will attend the funeral instead of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Kyodo news reported, citing multiple government sources.
It is not clear if Chinese President Xi Jinping will receive an invitation or accept it, reports BBC. It is unlikely that any of the seven members of the Chinese Communist Party’s powerful standing committee would go even if an invitation is received.
“Top Chinese leaders seldom attend the funerals of overseas leaders,” Joseph Cheng, an expert on China’s foreign policy told The Australian.
In October 1986, Queen Elizabeth II became the first British monarch to visit China.
The United States
US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden have confirmed they will be attending the service. The White House has confirmed that Biden’s predecessor, Donald Trump, has not received an invite.
In a departure from tradition, former US presidents will not be invited. Buckingham Palace did not grant permission to Biden to bring a delegation along.
