Who has and who hasn't been invited to attend the Queen’s state funeral?

The Queen's funeral is the biggest diplomatic event the UK has hosted in decades and it's already causing headaches


Leaders from around the world will attend the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II next Monday (September 19).

The service will take place at Westminster Abbey from 11am and members of the public are expected to line the streets of London, as the late monarch’s coffin is taken to the service.

King Charles III has approved an order that the day of the Queen's funeral will be a bank holiday in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland.

Westminster Abbey can hold a congregation of around 2,000 people, with heads of state, prime ministers and presidents, European royals and key figures from public life all attending.

There has been a lot of speculation around which world leaders will attend.

A source told ITV News that Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is expected to travel to London to pay tribute to the Queen.

However, it remains unclear whether he will attend the funeral itself.

Here’s who we know will be making an appearance at the Queen’s funeral at Westminster Abbey.

Who will attend the Queen’s funeral from the UK?

Attending her Majesty’s funeral will be members of the Royal Family, including King Charles III and the Queen Consort, Camilla.

The King’s siblings: Princess Royal, Duke of York and Earl of Wessex will attend and be accompanied by their respective partners.

The newly crowned Prince and Princess of Wales, as well as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will also appear at the state funeral, alongside many of the Queen’s other grandchildren.

In addition, Prime Minister Liz Truss and her living predecessors will attend proceedings at Westminster Abbey.


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Who will attend the Queen’s funeral from overseas?

Around 500 dignitaries from around the world are expected to descend on London to pay their last respects to the long-reigning monarch.

Invitations were sent over the weekend to the heads of state of countries, with whom the UK has diplomatic relations. For most nations, the invitation extends to the head of state, plus a guest.

US president Joe Biden was among the first to declare he would be flying into London with his wife, Jill Biden.

On Wednesday, he spoke with King Charles to offer his condolences on the passing of the Queen.

The US President recalled fondly the Queen’s kindness and hospitality, including when she hosted him and the First Lady, at Windsor Castle last June.

He also conveyed the great admiration of the American people for the Queen, whose dignity and constancy deepened the enduring friendship and special relationship between the US and the UK. 

When Mr Biden arrives in Britain he 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.

The leaders of most Commonwealth countries are expected to attend, with New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, making the nearly 24-hour journey on Wednesday.

Joe Biden was among the first to declare he would attend the Queen's funeral. Credit: AP

She is travelling with a delegation of compatriots “from different walks of life”, including the Maori king, Kiingi Tuheitia, former governor-general Dame Silvia Cartwright, Victoria Cross for New Zealand recipient Bill Apiata and former secretary-general of the Commonwealth Sir Don McKinnon.

Her Canadian and Australian counterparts, Justin Trudeau and Anthony Albanese, have also confirmed their presence.

Mr Albanese announced that he will not be travelling alone, tweeting that at the Palace’s invitation, he and governor-general David Hurley will be accompanied by 10 "everyday" Australians who have "made extraordinary contributions to their communities”.

The party will include racehorse trainer Chris Waller and wheelchair tennis star Dylan Alcott.

Mr Albanese has said that he will also travel alongside four leaders of Pacific Commonwealth nations to the Queen's funeral.

The respective leaders of the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Samoa and Papua New Guinea have accepted Australia’s offer of help with transportation to London. The delegation will fly to the UK on Thursday evening.

Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin has confirmed he and president Michael D Higgins will attend the Queen's funeral.

France’s Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Italy’s Sergio Mattarella, Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro are among the presidents attending, along with the European Commission’s Ursula von der Leyen.

Queen Letizia and King Felipe VI of Spain are expected to attend the Queen's funeral. Credit: Kirsty O’Connor/PA

Other presidents who have accepted invitations include Finland's Sauli Niinisto, Austria's Alexander Van der Bellen, Lithuania's Gitanas Nauseda, Sri Lanka's Ranil Wickremesinghe, South Korea's Yoon Suk-yeol, Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, and Poland's Andrzej Duda, according to Reuters.

Hungarian President Katalin Nova is expected to attend, along with Latvia's Egils Levits, and Paula-Mae Weekes, of the Trinidad and Tobago.

Charles Michel, President of the European Council is also expected to travel to London for the ceremony.

Meanwhile, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh and Israel's President Isaac Herzog are understood to be attending.


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King Felipe of Spain and his wife, Queen Letizia, are among the European Royals who will attend.

Royals from Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden are also expected to travel to London for the Queen's funeral.

Emperor Naruhito of Japan has announced he will travel to London, in what will be his first overseas trip, since ascending the throne in 2019. He will attend the service with Empress Masako.

Who will not attend the Queen’s funeral?

Invites to the Queen’s state funeral have not been sent to Russia, Belarus, Syria, Venezuela, Afghanistan or Myanmar.

Meanwhile, Iran, North Korea and Nicaragua will only be represented at an ambassadorial level, Whitehall sources told PA.

It is also not thought the trip will be made by Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Earlier this week Mr Zelenskyy had taken time out from organising his country’s fightback against Russian President Vladimir Putin’s forces to sign a book of condolence for the Queen.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is yet to confirm his attendance.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is not scheduled to attend the Westminster Abbey funeral on Monday, instead sending his deputy, Wang Qishan.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky is unlikely to attend the Queen's funeral. Credit: AP

When will world leaders arrive for the Queen’s funeral?

Many of the heads of state attending the late sovereign's funeral are expected to arrive in the UK by Sunday, September 18.

King Charles III will host a reception for all the overseas leaders at Buckingham Palace, on the evening before the funeral service.

Afterwards, they can attend the Lying In State of the Queen's coffin, before signing the condolence book at Lancaster House.

How will the Queen’s funeral work?

Once the service at Westminster Abbey has concluded, the Queen's coffin will be taken in procession to Wellington Arch.

From there, the coffin will then be moved to St George's Chapel, at Windsor Castle, for a committal service.

Later in the evening, the Queen will be buried privately in St George's Chapel's King George VI memorial chapel - an annex to the main church.

The area is where her mother and father were buried, along with the ashes of her sister, Princess Margaret.

Philip’s coffin will also move from the Royal Vault to the memorial chapel to join the Queen’s.