Pyongyang’s ambassador will receive an invitation, as will the envoys of Iran and Nicaragua, The Telegraph understands. Every country with which the UK has diplomatic relations has been invited to the state funeral, with the exception of Russia, Belarus and Myanmar. Britain and North Korea established diplomatic relations in 2000 after 60 years without embassies. Ambassador-level invitations, issued in lieu of an invitation to a head of state, may reflect diplomatic tensions. Both Iran’s and North Korea’s nuclear programs have been a source of tension with the UK and the wider West. Even if the invitation had been extended to Kim Jong Un, the reclusive leader of the hermit kingdom rarely travels. No invitation has been extended to Afghanistan since the Taliban took over the country last year. Russia has not been invited because of Vladimir Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, while Myanmar’s military seized power in a coup. Venezuela and Syria have not been invited because Britain does not have full diplomatic relations with those countries.
A warm welcome to Commonwealth Realms
There will be a warm welcome at the funeral for the 14 Commonwealth Kingdoms, which are countries that have had Queen Elizabeth II as their head of state.
