The individuals and state representatives who could not attend Queen Elizabeth II's funeral primarily fell into two categories: those from countries with which the UK had strained diplomatic relations, and those who were not invited as part of specific delegation rules.
Not invited
No-one from Russia, Belarus and Myanmar was invited either. Diplomatic relations between the UK and Russia have all but collapsed since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and a spokesperson for Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was "not considering" attending the funeral.
Queen Camilla has pulled out of attending the Duchess of Kent's funeral after suffering from acute sinusitis but is hopeful that she will have recovered sufficiently to be able to attend all royal elements of US president Donald Trump's visit.
Prince Harry whispered to his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, that he hoped she was happy and with his grandfather, Prince Philip, and expressed his admiration for her dedication to duty until the end, as revealed in his memoir Spare. He said he hoped she'd be happy and with Grandfather now, acknowledging her service through the Jubilee and her final duties.
"Meghan also hoped to accompany Harry, but as she was heavily pregnant with their daughter, her doctors wouldn't give her medical clearance to fly."
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh (then Sophie Rhys-Jones) did not attend Princess Diana's funeral in 1997, reportedly because her strong resemblance to Diana would have been too upsetting for the grieving crowds, a decision made thoughtfully by Sophie herself. At the time, she was dating Prince Edward, but they were not yet engaged or married.
At one point, Diana called Queen Elizabeth “sobbing,” as we learned in the 2017 documentary Diana: In Her Own Words. It's because of this close-knit bond that Queen Elizabeth allowed Princess Diana to call her “Mama.”
"I've been told that I have to ask your permission before I can propose," he said to his grandmother, who responded, "Well then, I suppose I have to say yes."
However, this wish was firmly denied. An insider explained that the Late Queen refused the photo because it was a private family meeting. There were concerns that any images taken by the Sussexes' photographer could be shared with US television networks, which raised privacy issues.
Prince George and his siblings call Queen Camilla "Gaga," a sweet nickname derived from the term her own grandchildren use, opting for a unique, affectionate name rather than a formal "Grandma" or "Nanny," according to royal reports.
Queen Camilla experienced a chest infection, later revealed to be a form of pneumonia, which forced her to cancel engagements in late 2024, leading to ongoing post-viral fatigue requiring rest and a modified schedule, though she has since recovered from the acute illness. She confirmed the pneumonia diagnosis during a state visit, managing indoor events but avoiding strenuous outdoor activities due to tiredness.
Why was Diana a princess after her wedding but Kate was a duchess? “Diana was immediately Princess of Wales because it was her husband's most senior title,” explains Koenig. Kate, on the other hand, went by duchess after her husband became a duke on their wedding day.
Princess Margaret didn't bow to Princess Diana's coffin at her funeral primarily due to a deep-seated resentment stemming from Diana's 1995 tell-all Panorama interview, which Margaret saw as a severe betrayal of the Royal Family and the Queen; Margaret never forgave Diana for publicly airing grievances and challenging royal decorum, viewing her as a disloyal figure, leading to her snub during the funeral procession despite their initially warm relationship.
“It is with sadness that we can confirm the death of Trooper Jack Burnell-Williams on 28 September 2022 at Hyde Park Barracks,” an army spokesperson told The Guardian. “Our thoughts are with the soldier's family and friends at this difficult time and we ask that their privacy is respected.
The plan was created as early as the 1960s and revised many times in the years before her death in September 2022. The phrase "London Bridge is down" was to be used to communicate the death of the Queen to the prime minister of the United Kingdom and key personnel, setting the plan into motion.
Meghan Markle has publicly shared that she experienced postpartum preeclampsia, a serious and rare condition involving high blood pressure and excess protein in the urine that occurred after childbirth, describing it as a "huge medical scare". She revealed this on her podcast, Confessions of a Female Founder, highlighting the life-threatening nature of the disorder, which can happen weeks after delivery and impact new mothers' ability to care for their newborns.
Harry wrote about the moment in his 2023 memoir Spare, sharing that Kate texted Meghan four days before the wedding, telling her, “Charlotte's dress is too big, too long, too baggy.
Royal expert Katie Nicholl said Queen Elizabeth II once referred to Camilla as "that wicked woman." For years, the Queen refused to sanction Camilla and Charles' relationship after their affair.
I omitted obey from my vows.
Princess Diana's secret love affair with Hasnat Khan—her 'true soulmate,' as revealed by former butler Paul Burrell. 'Diana & Meghan: Royal History Repeating Itself' is available NOW on True Royalty TV.
Contrary to rumours over the years, Elizabeth and Philip were said by insiders to have had a strong relationship throughout their marriage, despite the challenges of Elizabeth's reign. Elizabeth referred to Philip in a speech on the occasion of her Diamond Jubilee in 2012 as her "constant strength and guide".
Alongside the King, Baron Parker - the Lord Chamberlain who was the most senior official in the late Queen's royal household - stood in front of the coffin and symbolically "broke" his wand of office by dismantling it into two halves and laying them on her coffin.
During the decommissioning ceremony, Queen Elizabeth famously wept, marking one of the only times she ever cried in public during her 70 years on the throne. Princess Anne was also seen wiping away tears as she attended the ceremony alongside her parents and siblings.