Thursday 15 September 2022 10:47 AM Australia's PM is among first dignitaries to begin long journey to UK for ... trends now
Long journeys to the UK for the Queen's funeral on Monday began in earnest today - with Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese one of the first dignitaries to set off.
The PM is bringing with him ten 'everyday' people with him for the emotional service that takes place next week.
They include wheelchair tennis champion Dylan Alcott as well as horse trainer Chris Waller.
The Queen knew Mr Waller well and was said to be in contact with him before her death last Thursday.
Mr Albanese said earlier this week: 'These everyday Australians will travel alongside myself and the Governor-General and will join the Acting High Commissioner Lynn Atwood who is currently located in the United Kingdom.
'We have put together and confirmed all of these people will be able to travel, they will be on the same plane as me that will leave from Sydney on Thursday.
While most nations can send their leader or appointed delegate plus a guest, the Commonwealth realms, which retain the monarch as head of state, are being granted extra representation.
The realms can send prime ministers plus a guest, governors general plus a guest and the high commissioner.
They are also allowed to bring 10 ordinary citizens.
French President Emmanuel Macron has already confirmed he will attend the Queen's funeral on Monday, and that he offered condolences to King Charles on the death of his mother in a phone call on Wednesday night.
Dignitaries begin to board one of two RAAF aircraft at Sydney Airport, Sydney, this morning ahead of the funeral next week
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Governor General David Hurley and a selection of invited guests including Gai Waterhouse and Dylan Alcot will fly on the Government jets to London for Queen Elizabeth II's funeral
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and French President Emmanuel Macron are both going to be at the funeral
In a series of tweets, French President Emmanuel Macron said: 'In a phone conversation with His Majesty King Charles III last night, I expressed France's condolences on the death of his mother, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. I will attend the funeral in London on Monday.
'The ties between France and the United Kingdom are unbreakable. We will continue to strengthen them, following the path laid by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.'
Invitations to the Queen's state funeral have not been sent to Syria, Venezuela or Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.
While most countries around the world have been invited to send their head of state, Syria's leader Bashar al-Assad, Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro and representatives from the Taliban have all been left off the exclusive guest list.
Those three countries join Russia, Belarus and Myanmar on the list of nations not asked to send a representative, while North Korea and Nicaragua have been invited only at ambassadorial
