Queen’s funeral guests: Who will – and who won’t – attend

The Queen’s funeral on Monday will be one of the biggest gatherings of royalty and politicians hosted in the UK for decades.

Invitations went out over the weekend to an anticipated 500 heads of state and foreign dignitaries.

And of course there will be family, friends and courtiers in the congregation too.

Here’s what we know so far about who is expected to attend – and who is not.

Of course, close family will be present. King Charles, accompanied by Camilla, the Queen Consort. Also in attendance will be the Queen’s other three children, Anne, Andrew and Edward, as well as their spouses – including Sarah Ferguson, Andrew’s ex-wife.

The Queen’s grandchildren – including Princes William and Harry, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, Zara Tindall, Peter Phillips, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn – are expected too, along with their husbands and wives. It is not yet clear how many of the Queen’s 12 great-grandchildren will attend.

Among the others expected are Earl Spencer, Princess Diana’s brother, the late Queen’s godson and William and Harry’s uncle; Prince and Princess Michael of Kent; and the Duke and Duchess of Kent.

High up any list of invitations will surely be the ladies-in-waiting who for decades were by the Queen’s side.

These include Lady Susan Hussey, who began working for the Queen in 1960 and is Prince William’s godmother. She accompanied the Queen to the funeral of Prince Philip in 2021. Another is Dame Mary Morrison, who returned to the Queen’s side as soon as she could after breaking an ankle in 2018 at the age of 81.

There is also Angela Kelly, the Liverpool-born daughter of a docker who served as the late Queen’s personal assistant and senior dresser for 30 years and was said to be a close confidante.

Another adviser and friend is John Warren, who was the Queen’s racing manager. Cameras caught them celebrating together in the Royal box at Ascot when her horse Estimate won the Gold Cup in 2013.

Sir Jackie Stewart, the former Formula One world champion, had been due to visit the Queen at Balmoral prior to her death and is expected to attend the funeral. So too is Sir David Attenborough – he and the Queen were born just weeks apart and they had worked together on several occasions.

Members of royal families from across Europe, many of whom were blood relatives of the Queen, are expected.

Belgium’s King Philippe and Queen Mathilde have confirmed they will be there, as have King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and his wife, Queen Maxima, along with his mother, former Dutch queen Princess Beatrix.

King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain have also accepted an invitation, as have the royal families of Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Monaco.

Leaders from across the Commonwealth, of which the Queen served as head for the entirety of her reign, are expected to attend.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has accepted an invitation, as have New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Long-serving Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe have also reportedly accepted invitations. India will be represented by President Droupadi Murmu.

The White House has confirmed that President Joe Biden will attend along with First Lady Jill Biden – although unlike other dignitaries, they are understood not to be travelling to the service by bus.

Other world leaders said to have accepted invitations include Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Italian President Sergio Mattarella and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Chinese President Xi Jinping received an invitation – a decision that was criticised by some MPs and peers, on account of the Chinese government’s treatment of the Uyghur minority. According to parliamentary sources, Chinese officials were banned from attending the Queen’s lying-in-state at Westminster Hall. On Saturday, the Chinese government confirmed Vice President Wang Qishan would attend the funeral.

Saudi Arabia’s crown prince – and de facto ruler – Mohammed Bin Salman has been invited, and the Saudi Embassy in London confirmed he would be in the UK this weekend. It will be his first visit since the murder of journalist and Saudi critic Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.

Prince Mohammed was accused of ordering the killing, and Hatice Cengiz – who was engaged to Mr Khashoggi – said the prince “should not be allowed to stain [the Queen’s] memory and use this time mourning to seek legitimacy and normalisation”.

The Islamic Republic of Iran, long the subject of international sanctions over its nuclear programme, will be represented only at ambassadorial level, Whitehall sources said.

Representatives from Syria, Venezuela and Afghanistan have not been invited, reports the BBC’s James Landale. This is because the UK does not have full diplomatic relations with these countries.

No-one from Russia, Belarus and Myanmar has been invited either.

Diplomatic relations between the UK and Russia have all but collapsed since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and a spokesperson for Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was “not considering” attending the funeral.

The invasion was launched partially from the territory of Belarus. And the UK has significantly scaled back its diplomatic presence in Myanmar since a military coup last year.

North Korea (DPRK) and Nicaragua have been invited to send only ambassadors, not heads of state.