The Telegraph understands that 17 of the 23 living recipients will be in attendance, some flying halfway across the world to make it
Every recipient of the Victoria Cross and George Cross still alive has been invited to attend Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral on Monday.
The Telegraph understands that 17 of the 23 living recipients will be in attendance, some flying halfway across the world to make it.
The heroes will take their seats among more than 500 dignitaries, including scores of overseas political leaders and members of foreign royal families.
The Victoria Cross is the highest decoration of military valour in the British honours system. The George Cross is the highest civilian gallantry award.
Four Australian recipients of the Victoria Cross have been invited: Ben Roberts-Smith, Keith Payne, Mark Donaldson and Daniel Keighran. All four are expected to attend.
Mr Roberts-Smith told the West Australian newspaper: “I have a very deep respect for Her Majesty and everything that she has sacrificed in her life and what she has achieved.
“She has been a magnificent monarch, she has been a stoic leader, and importantly she was also a lovely lady.”
Collective George Cross awards can also be made. The NHS, Malta for its Second World War effort and the Royal Ulster Constabulary have all received the honour in the past.
Recipients from all three of those winners will be taking part in a procession of patronages from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch at the end of the funeral.
Lord Ashcroft, who owns the world’s largest collection of VCs, more than 200 medal groups, said: “It is a lovely gesture to invite all the living recipients of the VC and GC to the Queen’s funeral. These individuals are ‘the bravest of the brave’ and it is entirely appropriate that they are honoured in this special way.”
There were calls on Wednesday for Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral procession route to be lengthened so hundreds of thousands more Britons can pay their last respects.
Senior Tories have thrown their weight behind calls to extend the late Queen’s last journey to her final resting place in Windsor to accommodate larger crowds.
Their remarks came amid warnings that more than 350,000 mourners are going to miss out on the opportunity to visit the lying in state at Parliament.
David Jones, a senior Tory MP and former cabinet minister, told The Telegraph: “What’s very clear from the last few days is the enormous affection that people have for the Queen and the fact that so many people are going to be missing her now that she’s gone.
“So I think that anything that gives as many people as possible the opportunity to pay their respects is a good idea. I certainly think it’s a good idea and I hope that they will consider it.”
Another veteran Conservative backbencher also threw their weight behind the idea, adding that it could help alleviate the pressure on the capital over the next few days.
But the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said there was “no plan to change” the procession for the late Queen, which was “agreed with the Palace in advance”.
The invitations to Victoria Cross and George Cross winners are just one aspect of a huge operation being undertaken to organise the guest list for the funeral.
The Foreign Office is running a 24-hour operation to plan for what officials see as the most logistically challenging event hosted in London for decades.
More than 300 Foreign Office employees have already been put to work on the diplomatic side of the funeral preparations, including liaising over invitations and helping with transport.
A run-through of how dignitaries will be transported to and from Westminster Abbey was scheduled to take place in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Usually, the department handles one or two state visits a year, but this weekend’s gathering is more akin to organising hundreds at the same time.
The approach to invitations is dictated by tight protocol. Most countries have received an invitation for their head of state to attend the funeral plus one other guest.
It is up to the country in question to decide whether to attend and if so who the other guest should be. Some world leaders will bring partners; others may choose fellow politicians.
Expected attendees include Joe Biden, the US president; Emmanuel Macron, the French president; Michael Higgins, the Irish president; Justin Trudeau, the Canadian prime minister; Anthony Albanese, the Australian prime minister and Jacinda Ardern, the New Zealand prime minister.
There will be royalty too. Among those expected are King Philip and Queen Mathilde of Belgium; King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain; and Juan Carlos I, former King of Spain, and his wife Sofia.
Xi Jinping, the Chinese president, has been invited but is not expected to attend. He made his first overseas trip since the Covid-19 pandemic only last week, visiting Kazakhstan.
It is also unclear if Mohammad bin Salman, the Saudi Arabian Crown Prince, will join. The country’s head of state – who is the king – is the one who has received the invitation.
Invitees have been given a deadline of Thursday to respond by the Foreign Office, meaning that the full list of attendees may not become clear until Friday or the weekend.
Not all countries have been sent an invitation. On Tuesday it emerged the leaders of Russia, Belarus, and Myanmar would not be invited, so no Vladimir Putin, the Russian president.
On Wednesday it emerged that the leaders of Syria, Venezuela, and Afghanistan would also not be receiving an invitation, meaning no representative from the Taliban regime in Kabul.
North Korea, still known by the Foreign Office as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and Nicaragua are also only being offered the chance to send an ambassador.
Conversely, some nations – specifically the 14 Commonwealth Realms – are being handed more invitations than other countries.
The 14 Commonwealth realms are Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu.
Each realm will be sent invites for their prime minister plus one, governor-general plus one and high commissioner, plus the chance to invite a further 10 extra people from the country.
The decision about who can attend is up to them, opening up the possibility that famous citizens – such as celebrated athletes – could attend the funeral.
All choices about seating at Westminster Abbey are still to be determined.
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