Draconian security measures in order to comply and complete the process without any surprises – Thousands of people from every corner of the planet
Hundreds of foreign dignitaries and royals are expected to attend the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in London on Monday, a security and diplomatic juggernaut amid privileges for some and controversial guests.
As Westminster Abbey can only hold around 2,000 people, only heads of state and one or two guests per country have been invited to this first national funeral held in the UK since 1965.
The crowned ones
Numerous crown princes have confirmed their attendance at the funeral of Elizabeth, who reigned for more than 70 years.
Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako will make their first overseas trip since enthronement in 2019 to London.
Prince Albert II of Monaco, his wife Charlene, King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, Queen Maxima and Princess Beatrix, King Philip of the Belgians and King Harald V of Norway will all be in attendance, as will Queen Margaret of Denmark, who is now the sole reigning Queen of Europe.
Spain’s King Philip VI will attend, as will his father, Juan Carlos I, who abdicated in 2014 and now lives in exile in the United Arab Emirates.
Everyone on the bus
US President Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden, head of the list of diplomatic guests, landed yesterday, Saturday, evening in London.
Unlike other leaders, who were asked to arrive at the abbey in buses chartered by the authorities, Joe Biden was given permission to use “The Beast” his armored presidential limousine.
“Let’s spare a thought for the person in charge of the presidential palace of the Elysées who had to announce to President Macron that in London he will have to take the bus”, the Times write, rather amused, today.
The French president, who will indeed be in attendance, has reportedly said no to the bus, but it is not known what arrangements have been made.
Another difficulty lies in how the guests will be placed in the space, the Times underlines: it must be “avoided any risk of someone feeling offended by being placed behind a pillar and ensuring that there will be no protests.”
Controversial guests
Apart from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel, who will attend the funeral despite the post-Brexit tensions, there are some rather controversial figures among the guests.
Presidents of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro will be in attendance. Doubts remain about the presence of Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), who has been sidelined from the international scene since the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul.
Chinese President Xi Jinping will be absent, but his Vice President Wang Qishan will attend the funeral, while an official Chinese delegation was not allowed to pay their last respects in front of the queen’s coffin. This came after China imposed sanctions on British MPs who had criticized its human rights record.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will not be present either, but his wife Olena Zelenska paid her last respects in front of Elizabeth II’s coffin today.
They weren’t invited
Russia and Belarus are among a small group of countries that have been barred from the queen’s funeral following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, a ban Moscow has called “blasphemous” and “immoral”.
Burma, a former British colony ruled by a military junta on which London has imposed sanctions, but also Syria, Afghanistan and North Korea, were also excluded.
The insurance
“We are confident that officials from around the world who come here will understand that this is a great challenge and an unusual situation,” a British government spokesman said on Tuesday, preempting criticism of the tight security protocol.
More than 2,000 police officers from across the country were called in to reinforce Scotland Yard.
After the Queen’s death was announced, incidents have been rare during the public pilgrimage, but a man has been charged with disorderly conduct for breaking out of the queue and approaching the coffin yesterday, Friday.
The program and the protocol
At one o’clock in the afternoon Greek time, the funeral of Queen Elizabeth is scheduled for tomorrow Monday, completing the royal protocol after her death at the age of 96.
The procedures, however, will start early on Monday morning and will be completed in the evening, in a close family circle.
Here is the schedule of Queen Elizabeth’s funeral (Greece time):
At 8:30 a.m. on Monday, the popular pilgrimage that began on Wednesday night ends
10:00 – The doors of Westminster Abbey open for heads of state and other guests
12:35 – The coffin will be taken to the exit of the British Parliament to be placed on the kiliband. According to the protocol it will be accompanied by 142 members of the Royal Navy
12:44 – The procession from the British Parliament to Westminster Abbey will begin
12:52 – The procession will arrive at Westminster Abbey
13:00 – The so-called political function begins in the presence of 2000 guests. Among them heads of state and kings from all over the world
14:00 – The ceremony is completed in Westminster Abbey and the coffin is placed back on the killivan. Two minutes silence will be observed across the UK
14:15 – A new procession to the Wellington Arch begins. (Located next to Hyde Park and behind Buckingham Palace). The procession will pass in front of the palace and make a stop
15:00 – The procession arrives at the arch. The coffin enters the hearse bound for Windsor. (2-hour road trip. Lots of people are expected to be on the right and left of the road)
17:06 – The hearse arrives at the designated point. A procession forms again
17:10 – The procession to Windsor Castle begins
17:40 – King Charles and other members of the royal family enter the procession
17:53 – The procession arrives at St George’s Chapel inside Windsor Castle and the coffin is placed on a plinth
19:00 – The funeral procession begins. Its duration has not been specified. Once completed, the plinth will retreat to the royal crypt. (As happened at Philip’s funeral). The royals will leave and so will the cameras
21:30 – The burial will take place without cameras. Strictly private. Along with Philip’s coffin waiting in the Crypt
RES-EMP
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I am currently a news writer for News Bulletin247 where I mostly cover sports news. I have always been interested in writing and it is something I am very passionate about. In my spare time, I enjoy reading and spending time with my family and friends.
