Convention has for centuries dictated other crowned royals do not attend British coronations. Not this time. Foreign kings, queens, princes and princesses will be there. US President Joe Biden will be missing, but China is sending the man widely regarded as the oppressor of Hong Kong.
At least four kings and queens and a clutch of princes and princesses are on their way. There will be 90 heads of state in attendance.US President Joe Biden is following convention and not coming, represented by his wife, the first lady, instead. But most presidents or prime ministers that you would expect will be there.
The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office says 450 foreign dignitaries will be in Westminster Abbey in total - that is about a quarter of the congregation, with 200 nations, realms and Commonwealth countries being represented.In front rows will be foreign royals and representatives of the realms, those 14 countries that still regard the king as head of state.
Behind them, representatives of overseas territories, then representatives from other commonwealth nations with their own heads of state. Behind them, other guests will be seated in strict alphabetical order.Coronation: Key moments to look out forThe list of countries not to receive an embossed invitation from Buckingham Palace is short and predictable. Afghanistan, Belarus, Myanmar, Russia, Syria, Iran and Venezuela. North Korea has been invited but only at ambassadorial level.
Han Zheng is the Chinese official who did most to rip up the British-Chinese agreement over the former colony, order a brutal crackdown on protests and send hundreds to jail.The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation told Sky News:"It is pretty disgraceful that the architect of Hong Kong's demise has been invited to the coronation of King Charles III while other partners with whom the UK has an excellent relationship with, such as Taiwan, have been excluded.
"Who calls the shots in Britain, is it Beijing or our prime minister? Why are we kowtowing to Beijing for the guest list to our own coronation?"
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