Who is – and isn't – on the guest list for the Queen's funeral?
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The state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II – who died last week at the age of 96 – is underway in London. The State Gun Carriage carrying the Queen's coffin has begun its funeral procession to Westminster Abbey, the congregation has filled Westminster Abbey and huge crowds of mourners are lining the streets as the UK prepares for the final farewell of Britain's longest-serving monarch.
As well as compiling a step-by-step schedule of what we can expect to see today for Her Majesty's funeral (and how to watch it), we've also been learning about the honoured few chosen to carry the Queen's coffin. But, 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?
Aside from members of the royal family, heads of state for various nations and members of the armed services, almost 200 people who were recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours this year are in attendance, as are those considered to have made extraordinary contributions to the Covid-19 pandemic response.
A handful of celebrities are also expected to attend, including possibly Sir David Attenborough, Andrew Lloyd Webber and David and Victoria Beckham.
Who will be attending the Queen's funeral?
The Royal Family
Members of the Royal Family in attendance at Her Majesty's funeral include the newly crowned King Charles III and his wife, the Queen Consort, Camilla Parker-Bowles.
The Queen's other three children, Princess Anne - the Princess Royal, Prince Andrew - the Duke of York and Prince Edward - the Earl of Wessex, 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 in attendance:
Prince William and Kate Middleton (the Prince and Princess of Wales)
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (the Duke and Duchess of Sussex)
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
Several of Her Majesty's great-grandchildren are in attendance too, with Prince George and Princess Charlotte travelling to Westminster Abbey with the Queen Consort and the Princess of Wales. Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie arrived just before them.
George and Charlotte are confirmed to be walking in the post-service procession behind the Queen’s casket. Prince Louis will not be present, as it is thought he is too young, at five-years-old.
Also expected to attend are 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).
The Queen Consort's son, Tom Parker Bowles, has already arrived at the Abbey, as have Kate's parents Carole and Michael Middleton/
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.
UK, prime minister Liz Truss has arrived with her husband Hugh O'Leary. Labour party leader Sir Keir Starmer also arrived to take his seat just after 9.30 this morning, as did London Mayor Sadiq Khan and his wife Saadiya. First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, and the Irish premier, Michael Martin will also attend.
Former prime ministers will also be in attendance. David Cameron arrived with his wife Samantha and Boris Johnson has also arrived with his wife Carrie. Gordon Brown and his wife Sarah Jane Brown have taken their seats, as have Tony and Cherie Blair and John Major and his wife Norma.
US President Joe Biden has also arrived for the service 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, who has arrived to take his seat in the south transept with his with Brigitte, the German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Italian president Sergio Mattarella and Finland's Sauli Niinisto.
Other world leaders who have arrived are New Zealand's prime minister Jacinda Ardern, who has arrived with her husband Clarke Gayford. Canadian PM Justin Trudeau has also arrived with his wife Sophie Grégoire Trudeau. The Australian PM Anthony Albanese is also expected to attend, as is Brazil's president, Jair Bolsonaro.
Celebrities
Of the 2,000 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 David Attenborough, Andrew Lloyd Webber Serena Williams and David and Victoria Beckham.
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 is today (15 September), meaning the seating plan will be determined – and made public – in due course.
Our thoughts are with all those mourning the loss of the Queen.
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