On Sept. 8, Queen Elizabeth II died at the age of 96 after 70 years on the British throne. As the longest-reigning monarch in Britain’s history, politicians, world leaders, celebrities, and more notable names arrived to pay their respects to Her Majesty at the Queen’s state funeral at Westminster Abbey on Sept. 19.
According to NBC, over 500 dignitaries and heads of state were among the 2,000 guests invited to the funeral services to say their somber goodbyes. President of the United States, Joe Biden attended the services alongside First Lady Jill Biden. British prime minister Liz Truss was joined by former prime ministers Gordon Brown, Tony Blair, and Boris Johnson with their partners.
Other notable guests include the French president Emmanuel Macron, Canada’s prime minister Justin Trudeau, New Zealand’s prime minister Jacinda Arden. Royals from around the globe touched down in London to attend the services, including Kings and Queens from Spain, Jordan, and Belgium, the Emperor and Empress of Japan, the Prince and Princess of Monaco, the King of the Netherlands, and more.
Killing Eve actress Sandra Oh was unexpectedly in attendance as part of the Canadian delegation. In June, Oh was dubbed an officer of the Order of Canada for her “artistic career filled with memorable stage, television, and film roles in Canada and abroad,” per Today. The civilian honor was originally established by Queen Elizabeth back in 1967.
The royal family entered the Abbey behind the Queen’s coffin. Britain’s new Sovereign, King Charles III lead the way with the Queen Consort, Camilla, while the rest of the Queen’s children, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward followed. The Queen’s grandchildren were all in attendance, as well as her great-grandchildren Prince George and Princess Charlotte.
Princess of Wales Kate Middleton and Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle paid homage to the late monarch through their sartorial choices.
King Charles III and other working members of the royal family hosted official overseas guests and heads of state at a reception Buckingham Palace on Sunday before the service. There, the new Princess of Wales also held a special audience with Ukraine’s first lady Olena Zelenska.
The Queen’s funeral services were held at Westminster Abbey, which was the site of the Queen’s 1947 wedding to Prince Philip and her 1953 coronation, with a sermon by the Archbishop of Canterbury. At the service’s end, a two-minute moment of silence was held across the U.K. Afterwards, Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin was taken by hearse to St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.
King Charles III announced the official period of royal mourning will last until seven days after the Queen’s state funeral.
