World leaders and European royals pay their respects at Queen's funeral - all the photos

Over 500 dignitaries have flown to London

Online Royal CorrespondentLondon

Updated: September 19, 2022Sep 19, 2022, 12:23 PM GMT+1

World leaders and royals from around the globe were part of the congregation at the Queen's funeral service at Westminster Abbey on Monday.

US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden were among the attendees, who paid their respects to the late monarch.

The Queen's 15th Prime Minister, Liz Truss, who met with the monarch at Balmoral just two days before her death on 8 September, was also joined by Labour leader Keir Starmer and former British Prime Ministers, including Boris Johnson and Theresa May.

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Among the 500 dignitaries were France's President, Emmanuel Macron, Ireland's Prime Minister, Micheál Martin, New Zealand's Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, and Canada's Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau.

King Charles hosted a Buckingham Palace reception for world leaders on the eve of the Queen's funeral. He was joined by senior members of the royal family, including the Prince and Princess of Wales.

MORE: The Queen's very specific request for her state funeral revealed

The US President and First Lady arrive

A number of European royals were also among the congregation at the Queen's funeral, including King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, Prince Albert of Monaco and Queen Margrethe of Denmark.

World leaders

New Prime Minister Liz Truss met with the Queen just two days before her death. In her statement following the news, she said: "She was the very spirit of Great Britain – and that spirit will endure."

Labour leader Keir Starmer tweeted before the service: "Thank you Ma'am, for your steadying, guiding influence throughout your historic reign."

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Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, paid tribute to the Queen, saying: "Today we remember, mourn and celebrate Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. She was a model of selfless dedication who was with us every step of the way - through times of war and peace, decline and progress, despair and hope. We will forever be in her debt."

France's President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte were pictured arriving at Westminster Abbey.

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Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson was joined by his wife, Carrie, at the service. Following the news of the Queen's death, Mr Johnson shared a statement, saying: "This is our country’s saddest day because she had a unique and simple power to make us happy. That is why we loved her. That is why we grieve for Elizabeth the Great, the longest-serving and in many ways the finest monarch in our history."

In the days following the Queen's death, former Prime Minister Theresa May was among the leaders to share anecdotes about the late monarch. She recalled the time she dropped some cheese in front of the Queen during a picnic at Balmoral.

MORE: King Charles' last words to the Queen revealed

David Cameron and his wife, Samantha, were also among the former Prime Ministers in attendance.

Former British Prime Ministers seated together in Westminster Abbey.

Days before the service, New Zealand's Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, reflected on her first meeting with the Queen, during which she asked how the late monarch managed being both a mother and a leader.

Mrs Ardern, who was pregnant at the time of the exchange, said: "I asked her, for instance, of course what was one of the things on my mind alongside being a new prime minister was being a prime minister and a mum.

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"I said to her: 'How did you manage?' And I remember she just said: 'Well, you just get on with it'.

"And that was actually probably the best and most, I think, factual advice I could have. You do, you just take every day as it comes. And she did. But I have such respect for her because I see now what it takes to be a mum and a leader and she did it more times over than I."

Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife, Sophie, shared their condolences ahead of the funeral.

Royals from around the world

Princess Charlene and Prince Albert of Monaco, arrived with King Willem-Alexander, Queen Maxima and Princess Beatrix of The Netherlands.

Pricness Catherine of Serbia, Margareta of Romania, Queen Margrethe and Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark making their way into Westminster Abbey.

In the same year that Queen Elizabeth II marked her Platinum Jubilee, Queen Margrethe celebrated 50 years on the Danish throne in January.

Queen Letizia and King Felipe walked into the service arm-in-arm. The Queen hosted the Spanish royals for a state visit in 2017.

Queen Rania and King Abdullah II of Jordan paid their respects. Queen Rania spoke in defence of the royal family in a Channel 4 interview on Sunday. She was asked if in light of the cost-of-living crisis, the ceremony around the Queen's passing could be seen as "lavish".

Queen Rania replied: "What you are speaking about, the pageantry and the ceremony, this is part of the British brand. This is what distinguishes you from the rest of the world. People look at this country in awe and I think there's been so much respect from all over the world just looking at how things have been done and conducted in such an orderly fashion over the last 10 days.

"The smooth transition with the swearing in of the new King and how people have really closed ranks and come together."

When speaking about the new King, Queen Rania spoke of a "continuity" as he takes over Her Majesty's reign thanks to the "values" that the monarch instilled in him.

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan were among the royals to attend the service.

Invited monarchs and royals from around the world, stood as the Queen's coffin passed in Westminster Abbey.

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