London: President Droupadi Murmu arrived at Gatwick Airport in London to attend Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral at London’s Westminster Abbey on Saturday.
The President is on an official tour to the United Kingdom from September 17 to 19 to attend the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on Monday and offer condolences on behalf of the Government of India.
The presidential aircraft carrying Murmu and her entourage members, including foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra landed at London’s Gatwick Airport at 20:50 IST from where she left for the hotel where she will be staying during this tour.
On her arrival at the airport, the president was received by the High Commissioner of India to the United Kingdom.
According to official reports, on Sunday, she will attend the Lying-in-State of the Queen’s coffin at the Palace of Westminster and sign a condolence book on behalf of the Indian government at Lancaster House near Buckingham Palace.
Later in the day, she will attend a reception hosted by King Charles III for the overseas leaders at Buckingham Palace in London before the funeral service on Monday at 11 am local time.
The next day, she will attend the state funeral service at West Gate of Westminster Abbey. And in the afternoon, she will attend the reception hosted by James Cleverly, UK’s Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs.
Queen Elizabeth II, 96, the former head of state of the UK and Head of the Commonwealth of Nations passed away on September 8. She will be laid to rest will full state honours at Westminster Abbey on September 19.
One-day state mourning was observed across India on September 11 as a mark of respect to UK’s Queen Elizabeth II who passed away on September 8.
