Who is – and isn't – on the guest list for the Queen's funeral?

Photo credit: Getty
Photo credit: Getty

The funeral of Queen Elizabeth II – who passed away last week at the age of 96 – is just days away, and many people in the UK are preparing themselves for the final farewell of Britain's longest-serving monarch.

As the discussion around what people will wear to the funeral comes to a close, members of the public are turning their minds to a new question: Who is on the guest list for Her Majesty's funeral?

Who will be attending the Queen's funeral?

The Royal Family

As you would expect, members of the Royal Family will be in attendance at Her Majesty's funeral. This includes the newly-crowned King Charles III and his wife, the Queen Consort, Camilla Parker-Bowles.

Photo credit: Danny Lawson - Getty Images
Photo credit: Danny Lawson - Getty Images

The Queen's other three children, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward will also be at the service, as will their respective spouses (including the Duke of York's ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson).

Her Majesty's grandchildren and their partners are also due to attend:

  • Prince William and Kate Middleton (the Prince and Princess of Wales)

  • Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

  • Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi

  • Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank

  • Zara Tindall and Mike Tindall

  • Peter Phillips (and likely his ex-wife Autumn Kelly)

  • Lady Louise Windsor

  • James, Viscount Severn

It's possible that Her Majesty's great-grandchildren will be in attendance too, but many royal fans suspect that only the older children will be there. This includes Prince George (the future King), Princess Charlotte, Savannah and Isla Phillips, and Mia Tindall.

Other members of the Royal Family expected to attend the funeral include Queen Elizabeth II's cousins: the Duke of Kent, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, Princess Alexandra and Prince Richard (the Duke of Gloucester).

Foreign royals

It's not just the British Royal Family who'll be paying their respects to the Queen next week, but royals from across the world as well.

Spain's King Felipe and Queen Letizia have been confirmed as guests, while former monarchs Juan Carlos and Sofía have been invited.

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway and Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco have all confirmed their attendances, too.

Other members from Europe's royal families will also be at the service, including Sweden, Denmark, Belgium and Greece.

World leaders

During her 70-year reign, Her Majesty travelled the world and met countless leaders and heads of state along the way. It is only fitting then that so many of them will be there to pay their respects on Monday.

Photo credit: Jane Barlow - Getty Images
Photo credit: Jane Barlow - Getty Images

From the UK, prime minister Liz Truss, and Labour party leader Sir Keir Starmer, will be at the Queen's funeral, as will First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, and the Irish premier, Michael Martin.

US President Joe Biden has confirmed he will be present, with his wife, First Lady Jill Biden – however, the White House announced earlier this week that former US presidents Donald Trump and Barack Obama would not be in attendance.

Leaders from across Europe will also be at the funeral service, including French president Emmanuel Macron, the German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Italian president Sergio Mattarella and Finland's Sauli Niinisto.

Other world leaders who are also expected to be present are New Zealand's prime minister Jacinda Ardern, and her Australian counterpart, Anthony Albanese. Canadian PM Justin Trudeau confirmed his attendance, as did Brazil's president, Jair Bolsonaro.

Celebrities

Of the 2000 guests who have been invited to the Queen's funeral, it's likely that a handful of Her Majesty's celebrity friends will be in attendance. As we've seen during recent royal weddings – and Princess Diana's 1997 funeral, for example – celebrities that could be there to pay their respects include Elton John as well as David and Victoria Beckham and Serena Williams.

Photo credit: Max Mumby/Indigo - Getty Images
Photo credit: Max Mumby/Indigo - Getty Images

Who has not been invited to Her Majesty's funeral?

Invitations to Queen Elizabeth II's funeral have not been sent to Russia, Belarus or Myanmar. Russia has no doubt been left off the guest list following Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine earlier this year. Due to the conflict, The Times reported that Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would also miss the event.

Venezuela and Syria, meanwhile, have not been invited because Britain does not have full diplomatic relations with them. No representatives from Afghanistan will be invited either because of the current political situation there.

Is there a seating plan for the Queen's funeral?

Of course – given how everything about Her Majesty's funeral has been planned to precision, the seating plan for the memorial service is no different. The RSVP deadline for the funeral was 15 September, meaning the seating plan will be determined – and made public – in due course.

You Might Also Like