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Arab leaders attend Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral

By Pramod Kumar
Person, Human, Suit Gareth Fuller/PA Wire via Reuters
King Abdullah II and Queen Rania of Jordan attend the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey on September 19. Seated behind them are Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan
  • King Abdullah and Queen Rania among mourners in London
  • World leaders including President Joe Biden at Westminster Abbey
  • Sheikh Mohammed greeted King Charles III at palace on Sunday

Royals and leaders from the Middle East are among the dignitaries attending the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey in London.

Britain’s longest-reigning monarch died on September 8 aged 96.

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is not expected to attend the funeral, Reuters reported, citing a source at the British foreign office. The Gulf state will be represented by Prince Turki bin Mohammed Al Saud, a minister of state and a member of the cabinet since 2018.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the UAE and the ruler of Dubai, was photographed on Sunday talking to King Charles III at Buckingham Palace. Sheikh Mohammed arrived at the palace alongside Reem Al Hashimy, a minister in the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

Sheikh Mohammed talks to King Charles as members of other royal families look on. The Crown Prince of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad Al Sabah, and the Sultan of Oman, Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, stand between them. Picture: Dubai Media Office/Twitter
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Middle Eastern royals and dignitaries among the mourners, including the King and Queen of Jordan, second row left. The Sultan of Brunei is on the second row right. Picture: Gareth Fuller/Pool via Reuters
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US President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden arrive for the state funeral. Picture: Reuters/Phil Noble/Pool
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President Isaac Herzog of Israel and his wife Michal Herzog at the abbey. Picture Geoff Pugh/Pool via Reuters
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China’s Vice President Wang Qishan arrived at the abbey wearing a face mask. Picture: Reuters/John Sibley
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Juan Carlos, the former king of Spain who now lives in the UAE, is helped to his seat. His attendance has already been criticised by some Spanish politicians and commentators. Picture: Gareth Fuller/Pool via Reuters
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Dignitaries take their seats in the abbey. Picture: Frank Augstein/Pool via Reuters
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The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II is carried into St George VI Chapel at Windsor Castle, followed by King Charles and other senior royals. Picture: Dave Jenkins/Pool via Reuters
King Charles and Camilla, the Queen Consort, follow the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II as it is carried out of Westminster Abbey. The king’s handwritten note on the wreath reads: ‘In loving and devoted memory.’ Picture: Frank Augstein/Pool via Reuters

Other Middle Eastern royals expected to attend include Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al Sabah, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Morocco’s Crown Prince Moulay Hassan, Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al-Said and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

Political leaders from the region set to attend include President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey, Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan of Brunei, Moulay Hassan, Crown Prince of Morocco, Mostafa Madbouly, prime minister of Egypt, President Isaac Herzog of Israel and Mohammad Shtayyeh, the Palestinian prime minister.

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