VIPS ARRIVE
First leader to arrive for Queen’s funeral is New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern as world’s most power gather to pay respects
WORLD leaders started to gather in London today to pay their respects to the Queen ahead of her funeral next week.
New Zealand's Jacinda Ardern was the first to arrive for the global event on Monday, with hundreds more expected over the weekend.
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The New Zealand PM attended Her Majesty's lying in state at Westminster Hall on Friday.
And Ms Ardern, who joined thousands of mourners, paid a touching tribute to the late monarch as she paused to curtsy by her coffin.
She is among 500 heads of state and dignitaries invited to the service on Monday and a VIP reception hosted by King Charles the day before.
Global leaders are set to arrive in London this weekend and are expected to pay their own respects to Queen Elizabeth with visits to Westminster Hall where she is lying in state.
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More than 30 world leaders are due to attend the funeral service on Monday, including US President Joe Biden, France’s Emmanuel Macron, China Vice President Wang Qishan, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission.
While despot Vladimir Putin has not been invited, Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelensky will attend - along with dozens of world leaders and Royal Families from across the world.
A source said: “Olena Zelenska’s presence is yet another sign of the global support for Ukraine while Russia is isolated.
“Britain is one of Ukraine’s staunchest allies. Her presence at the funeral is a sign of that friendship and mutual respect.”
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Meanwhile, dozens of members of foreign royal families — including Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain and King Philip and Queen Mathilde of Belgium — will be among the 2,000 mourners at Westminster Abbey.
NHS bigwigs, including chief exec Amanda Pritchard, have also been invited.
They will join nearly 200 key workers and volunteers recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list, including Ella Marks, 88, who attended George VI’s coronation in 1937.
And the evening before the funeral, King Charles III and his Queen Consort Camilla will host foreign VIPs at a Buckingham Palace reception.
It is set to be the largest gathering of world leaders in modern history and the first state occasion at the palace — which is undergoing a £360million refit — since then President Donald Trump’s visit more than three years ago.
Dignitaries will all be bussed in to the funeral.
They have been told to gather at the Royal Hospital Chelsea and travel under “collective arrangements”, a palace source said.
Further details on the plans were released yesterday - with the sombre occasion starting at 11am in Westminster Abbey.
The Queen's gun carriage will be drawn by 138 Royal Naval ratings as it is moved from New Palace Yard to Westminster Abbey via Parliament Square, Broad Sanctuary and the Sanctuary.
It will be followed on foot by King Charles and members of the Royal Family including Prince Edward, Prince Andrew, Princess Anne, Prince William and Prince Harry.
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The Queen's final resting place will be the King George VI memorial chapel where her mother and father were buried along with the ashes of her sister, Princess Margaret.
Prince Philip's coffin will move from the Royal Vault to the memorial chapel to join his beloved wife of 73 years.
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