Here Are the World Leaders Who Are Not Attending the Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II

A parade of world leaders from all corners of the world is descending on London Monday to pay their final respect to Queen Elizabeth II, who who died on Sep. 8 at the age of 96.

Approximately 500 heads of state, royals, and other foreign dignitaries have been invited to the state funeral.

Those gathering at Westminster Abbey to lay the Queen to rest include President Joe Biden and representatives from across the Commonwealth, including Australia’s leader Anthony Albanese, who provided transport for several Pacific leaders to attend.

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Hundreds of U.K. politicians, military veterans and British charity workers are also attending. But not everyone made the guest list. The leaders of several countries were not invited, while others are choosing not to go.

Diplomatic relations and public opinion are playing a role in the exclusion of some figures, though cost is also factor, as the Royal Family doesn’t want to be seen to be lavish.

Capacity is another constraint. A source disclosed that space in Westminster Abbey is limited to about 2,000 people. Besides family members and U.K. dignitaries, there is pressure to ensure people awarded U.K honors are able to attend, along with friends and employees of the Queen.

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Representatives from Russia and Belarus were not invited to the Queen’s funeral over the invasion of Ukraine, so Russia’s President Vladimir Putin will not be present. Russia’s foreign ministry criticized his missing invitation.

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Myanmar’s leaders were also not invited. The Southeast Asian nation’s military staged a coup in 2021, overthrowing the democratically-elected government and overseeing a violent crackdown on dissenters.

News sources revealed North Korea, Iran and Nicaragua have been asked to send ambassadors but representatives from Syria, Venezuela, and Afghanistan didn’t get an invite.

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was invited but is not expected to attend. Human rights groups had criticized the invitation of Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler because of his involvement in the murder of government critic and journalist Jamal Kashoogi. Saudi Arabia is expected to be represented by Prince Turki bin Mohammed al Saud, a minister of state and a member of the cabinet, according to Reuters.

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Photo Credit: Getty

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