Russia, Belarus, Burma and North Korea have not been invited to Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral next Monday in front of more than 100 crowned heads of state, heads of state and other dignitaries.
By the author
hasAfter the Kremlin invaded Ukraine, neither Belarus nor Russia were invited, and are now among the few countries excluded from the event. An unnamed government source confirmed on Tuesday that Burma, a former British colony, and North Korea, a long-neglected country, had been ignored by the organizers.
Elizabeth II’s funeral next week at Westminster Abbey is a major diplomatic event between law enforcement and a major security challenge to the protocols for Buckingham Palace and the British government.
A bus program for leaders
US President Joe Biden made sure to be there and was allowed to arrive in his own armored limo nicknamed “The Beast”.
A document detailing the organization of the event leaked to the press said other leaders were to travel by bus to Westminster Abbey, but organizers explained that close allies England could use their own transport routes. Among them are French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as well as Japanese Emperor Naruhito, on his first official trip abroad since ascending the throne in 2019.
A hot message from Vladimir Putin
It will be “a very busy day and we hope dignitaries around the world will understand that this is a difficult challenge and an extraordinary situation,” a government spokesman said on Tuesday.
Spain’s former King Juan Carlos I, who abdicated in 2014 and is in exile in the United Arab Emirates, said he would attend the funeral alongside his son, the current King Felipe VI.
Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a warm message to the sovereign’s death announcement on Thursday, declaring that he “rightfully enjoyed the love and respect of his subjects and power on the world stage.” before quickly mentioning that he won’t be going to the funeral. Both Russia and Belarus have embassies in London, but diplomatic ties have reached a point of no return since the start of the war in Ukraine, which has been backed by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.
“Total coffee junkie. Tv ninja. Unapologetic problem solver. Beer expert.”