Hundreds of world leaders and Heads of States across the globe have come together in central London on Monday to attend the state funeral of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II.
Recall that CEOAFRICA had earlier reported that the Queen died on September 8, 2022 at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, at the age of 96. Her death was announced in the evening which was followed by reactions from leaders around the world.
CEOAFRICA learnt that the queen was laid in state at the Palace of Westminster to allow members of the public to pay their respects. However, on Monday morning, her coffin has been moved to the church, for the state funeral service, which was scheduled to begin at 6 a.m. ET.
Around 500 foreign dignitaries are expected to attend the service at Westminster Abbey, including President Joe Biden, kings and queens from across Europe, and leaders of Commonwealth nations.
Ahead of the funeral, King Charles paid host to Heads of States and official overseas’ guests, at the Buckingham Palace on Sunday. Here's all the politicians, world leaders, and others confirmed to attend Queen Elizabeth's funeral:
Nigeria
Vice President Yemi Osibanjo to represent Nigeria. Osibanjo is expected to return to Nigeria after Monday’s state funeral.
USA
The White House confirmed that President Joe Biden will attend Queen Elizabeth's funeral along with First Lady, Jill Biden. Not all former presidents will be able to attend, but there is speculation that some former, like Barack and Michelle Obama, may receive private invites.
UK leaders
Prime Minister Liz Truss, who met with Queen Elizabeth just two days before the monarch died, will be in attendance as well as the Labour Party leader, Sir Keir Starmer, First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, and First Minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford.
Commonwealth leaders
• Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia
• Governor-General David Hurley of Australia
• Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern of New Zealand
• Prime Minister Andrew Holness of Jamaica
• Governor-General Patrick Allen of Jamaica
• Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada
• Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh
• Prime Minister James Marape of Papua New Guinea
• Governor-General Bob Dadae of Papua New Guinea
• President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa
• President Ranil Wickremesinghe of Sri Lanka
• President Paula-Mae Weekes of Trinidad and Tobago
• President Droupadi Murmu of India
Other world leaders
• Taoiseach (similar to 'Prime Minister') Micheál Martin of Ireland
• President Michael D. Higgins of Ireland
• President Emmanuel Macron of France
• President Alexander Van der Bellen of Austria
• President Frank-Walter Steinmeier of Germany
• President Sergio Mattarella of Italy
• President Isaac Herzog of Israel
• President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil
• President Sauli Niinistö of Finland
• President Hage Geingob of Namibia
• President Yoon Suk-Yeol of South Korea
• President Katalin Novak of Hungary
• President Egils Levits of Latvia
• President Andrzej Duda of Poland
• President Gitanas Nauseda of Lithuania
• President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey
• European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
• European Council President Charles Michel
Other attendees
All holders of the Victoria Cross or George Cross will be able to attend, as will the nearly 200 people recognized at the Queen's Birthday Honors in June. “The birthday honors’ recipients, drawn from across the UK, were recognised for their extraordinary contributions in various areas, including the response to the Covid-19 pandemic, people who volunteered in their communities, charity workers and those who work in healthcare, education and the wider public sector," according to a spokesperson for the Prime Minister.
