Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will on Saturday depart Abuja for London to represent Nigeria at a number of events today and on Monday during the state funeral for Queen Elizabeth II.
Several world leaders and royal families from different continents are expected to attend the funeral of the 96-year-old queen who passed away on September 8 at the Balmoral Castle in Scotland, the United Kingdom.
Until her demise, Queen Elizabeth II was the Head of the Commonwealth and the longest-serving British monarch, reigning for 70 years.
Among those expected to attend are the President and first lady of the United States of America, Joe and Jill Biden; the President of France, Emmanuel Macron; President of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier; Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau; Vice President of China, Wang Qishan; President of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro; Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese, and the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern.
Also expected are Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain; King Philip and Queen Mathilde of Belgium, Queen Margrethe II, Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark.
However, in a statement signed by the Vice President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, on Saturday, Prof Osinbajo would join members of the Royal Family, world leaders – including members of the Commonwealth, heads of state, governors-general, prime ministers, and foreign royal families – at the ceremonies, including the funeral service scheduled to hold at Westminster Abbey on Monday.
“Ahead of the funeral service, the Vice President will be among guests and dignitaries to be received by King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla, at a reception in Buckingham Palace on Sunday. Earlier on that day, the VP will hold a bilateral meeting with the UK Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly,” the statement added.
The Vice President will return to Nigeria after the funeral.
