Invitations to the Queen’s state funeral have not been sent to Syria, Venezuela or Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.
Most countries around the world have been invited to send their head of state, and the invite has been extended to one guest, those three countries join Russia, Belarus and Myanmar on the list of nations not asked to send a representative. North Korea, Nicaragua, and Iran have been invited only at ambassadorial level.
Invitations are being sent to most nations with which the UK has diplomatic ties. The UK does not have diplomatic relations with Syria or Venezuela, while the political situation in Afghanistan since the Taliban swept to power a year ago means no representative has been invited from Kabul.
READ MORE: LIVE Queen lying in state queue latest as waits of 30 hours expected and coffin procession updates
Around 500 dignitaries are expected to travel to London for the event, and the officials will join members of the royal family and UK prime minister past and present at Westminster Abbey to pay their final respects to long-reigning monarch.
While most nations can send their leader or appointed delegate plus a guest, the Commonwealth realms, which retain the monarch as head of state, are being granted extra representation. These realms can send prime ministers plus a guest, governors general plus a guest and their high commissioner.
They are also allowed to bring 10 ordinary citizens – Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has already said his country’s representatives had been invited by Buckingham Palace for their “extraordinary contributions to their communities”.
All holders of the Victoria Cross or George Cross will also be able to attend the Queen’s funeral.
Downing Street refused to comment on reports that world leaders visiting London for the Queen’s state funeral have been asked to travel on commercial flights and will be bussed to Westminster Abbey. President Biden, who confirmed he would attend with his wife Jill Biden, is understood to have dispensation to take the heavily armoured presidential car known as the Beast while other leaders will have to take the bus.
READ NEXT:
