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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
World
David Kent

Who isn't invited to Queen's funeral? Putin snub and North Korea offer

Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong-un and anyone from Belarus are among the people who haven't been invited to the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.

Representatives from the majority of Commonwealth nations and our own Taoiseach Micheál Martin and President Michael D Higgins are in attendance for the service, which takes place on Monday.

The BBC claim that invitations have gone out to 500 heads of state and foreign dignitaries.

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But not all of the countries around the globe have made the list.

Vladimir Putin

Russia's President Vladimir Putin talks to the Queen as they arrive for a banquet in London in 2003 (PA)

Perhaps the most obvious snub has gone to Vladimir Putin.

Although the Queen met numerous times with the Russian leader at G7 and G8 summits over the years (including one as recent as 2021), no one from Russia has gotten an invite.

A spokesperson for the Kremlin leader claimed he was "not considering" attending the funeral anyway.

Kim Jong-un

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (via REUTERS)

The Supreme Leader of North Korea (DPRK) has also failed to receive an invite.

Although, in a difference to Russia, North Korea have been allowed to send an ambassador to the funeral procession at Westminster.

That means that the North Korean Ambassador to the UK, His Excellency Mr. Choe Il, was issued an invitation.

Other nations

Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko (AFP via Getty Images)

Belarus, Myanmar, Syria, Venezuela and Afghanistan are all on the list of nations that haven't gotten a go-ahead to attend from the Royal Family.

There are a number of varying reasons as to why.

At time of writing, the UK does not have any diplomatic relations with Syria or Venezuela, while the political situation in Afghanistan remains tense after a number of incidents in recent weeks.

Belarus is seen as a key factor in Putin's illegal invasion of Ukraine earlier this year, while UK political leaders are also wary of Myanmar after a military coup took place in the country last year.

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