DUBAI: Several leaders from the Middle East have been arriving in the United Kingdom over the last few days to pay condolences for Queen Elizabeth II ahead of Monday’s state funeral.
Queen Elizabeth II, the UK’s longest-serving monarch, died at Balmoral aged 96, after reigning for 70 years.
Crown Prince Mishal al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah arrived in London on Sunday, with a delegation, on a trip to pay condolences for the queen, state news agency KUNA reported.
Egypt's Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli also headed to London on Sunday morning to attend the funeral of the queen on behalf of President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog is scheduled to fly to London on Sunday as Israel's representative at the funeral. He will be accompanied by his wife Michal.
Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa arrived on Saturday in the UK to pay his respects. The Bahrani King will offer his condolences to King Charles III and to the rest of the royal family.
Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa arrived on Saturday in the UK to pay his respects. (BNA)
King Abdullah departed Jordan on Saturday to attend the funeral that will be held in London before heading to New York to participate in the 77th session of the UN General Assembly.
The Sultan of Oman Haitham bin Tariq al-Moazam arrived on Friday for a visit that will last "several days", according to the state news agency ONA.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has also announced that he will be representing his country at the state funeral on Sept. 19.
Meanwhile, Biden, Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and other world leaders were due to attend a reception with the late queen’s successor, King Charles III.
Australia's anti-monarchy Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who viewed the lying-in-state Saturday, told Sky News Australia that the queen was "a constant reassuring presence".
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada, which like Australia now has Charles as its sovereign, said she "served for her entire life, and bore the weight of her duties with impeccable grace".
The first members of the public were already camping out in advance to catch a glimpse of Monday’s grand farewell at Westminster Abbey, which is expected to bring London to a standstill and be watched by billions of viewers worldwide.
