Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama joined thousands of mourners at Westminster Hall in England to pay his respects to Her Majesty, the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Mr Bainimarama was amongst the 500 dignitaries invited to the late Queen’s funeral. Invitations have not been sent to the leaders of Russia, Belarus or Myanmar.

Other leaders from the Commonwealth countries are New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Canada’s Justin Trudeau and Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese.

France’s Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Italy’s Sergio Mattarella, Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro and Joe Biden are among the presidents attending.

Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and Spain’s King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, as well as former Spanish monarch Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia are also part of the 500 dignitaries.

On social media, the PM said it was an emotional arrival when he joined mourners at Westminster Hall to honour Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

He witnessed the changing of the catafalque party standing watch at her coffin, which was a show of duty, discipline, and affection he would not soon forget.

“We stood there for about 10 minutes and then bowed our heads. And just as we were ready to leave, we were asked to await the changing of the catafalque party,” he said.

“We left after the changing of the catafalque party. We also signed the condolence book for the late Queen Elizabeth II.”

He was also part of the reception of the century at Buckingham Palace, hosted by King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla.

The State funeral has been cited as the biggest gatherings for royalty and politicians hosted in the United Kingdom for decades.

Story By: Nacanieli Tuilevuka

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