Russia, Belarus, Burma and North Korea were not invited at the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II next Monday in the presence of more than 100 crowned heads, heads of state and other personalities, a government source announced on Tuesday. After’Kremlin invasion of Ukraineneither Belarus nor Russia will be invited, now counting among the few nations to be excluded from the event.
Burma and North Korea, two countries ignored by the organizers
Burma, a former British colony, and North Korea, kept away for a long time, were also ignored by the organizers, confirmed this source, who requested anonymity. The funeral of Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey next week is a major diplomatic event, between a major security challenge for law enforcement and protocols to be observed for Buckingham Palace and the British government.
The American President Joe Biden confirmed he would be there and got permission to come with his own armored limo, nicknamed “the Beast”.
Heads of State close to the country authorized to take their means of transport
A document detailing the organization of the event that leaked to the press suggests that the other leaders will have to take a bus to get to Westminster Abbey, but the organizers explained that the closest allies UK might use their own means of transport. Among them, the French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as well as Japanese Emperor Naruhito, whose first official trip abroad since he took the throne in 2019.
It will be an “extremely busy day and we are confident that dignitaries from around the world making the trip will understand that this is a daunting challenge and an unusual situation,” a government spokesman said on Tuesday.
Former Spanish King Juan Carlos I present
Spain’s ex-King Juan Carlos I, who abdicated in 2014 and lives in exile in the United Arab Emirates, said he would attend the funeral with his son, the current King Felipe VI.
Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a very warm message on Thursday on the announcement of the sovereign’s death, declaring that she had “rightly enjoyed the love and respect of her subjects, as well as authority over the world stage”. Before quickly indicating that he would not go to the funeral. Both Russia and Belarus have embassies in London, but diplomatic relations have reached a point of no return since the start of the war in Ukraine, supported by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.
