Monarchs, presidents and prime ministers from all across the globe have gathered in the UK to attend the Queen’s funeral.
US president Joe Biden, French president Emmanuel Macron and India’s president Droupadi Murmu are among the most high profile leaders who attended today’s service.
Leaders of the Commonwealth realms were also in attendance, including New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern, Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau and Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese.
These Commonwealth realms recognise the British monarchs as their heads of state.
Others include Jamaica’s prime minister, Andrew Holness, the prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne, and prime minister of Papua New Guinea, James Marape.
Browne previously studied an MBA in finance at the University of Manchester and was elected as Antigua and Barbuda’s prime minister in 2014.
Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan were among the international monarchs to come to the funeral.
The imperial family normally avoids funerals, but an exception has been made for the Queen because of the close relationship between Japan’s royals and the British royal family.
Other royals in attendance included King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium and King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway.
President Biden arrived at Westminster Abbey in the armoured limousine known as ‘the Beast’, whilst other world leaders had to take the bus.
However, Biden and first lady Jill did sit 14 rows back in Westminster Abbey.
Chinese president Xi Jinping did not attend the funeral, but his vice-president Wang Qishan attended in his stead.
Despite the funeral amidst the backdrop of Brazil’s presidential election, this did not prevent President Jair Bolsonaro from taking the roughly 11 hour flight to the UK.
Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand’s prime minister, said the Queen gave her valuable advice for being a new mother and leader.
Speaking to the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg, Ardern said: “One of the things on my mind alongside being a new prime minister was being a prime minister and a mum.
“And when you think about leaders who have been in that position, there were so few to look to.”
Emmanuel Macron gifted King Charles III a book of pictures celebrating the Queen’s visits to France when he attended the reception at Buckingham Palace.
The prime minister of India, Narendra Modi, did not attend the funeral, but the president of India, Droupadi Murmu, has come in his place.
However, leaders of some countries including Russia, Belarus, Myanmar and Afghanistan were not invited to the funeral.
Featured image: Reuters
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