The queen’s burial gave rise to a gigantic diplomatic ballet with the presence, in London, of more than five hundred dignitaries from around the world. However, not all countries were invited.
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More than five hundred dignitaries from around the world were to make the trip to London for the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, Monday, September 19, including a hundred presidents and prime ministers, and, at least, twenty heads crowned. Among them, King Felipe VI, Emperor Naruhito of Japan, of which it is the first trip abroad since his accession to the throne in 2019, the American president, Joe Biden, the French head of state, Emmanuel Macron, the Brazilian Jair Bolsonaro…
It was not officially a question of speaking political or geopolitical, but this world -class event still represents a rare occasion for British diplomacy to shine. Especially since it is jostled from Brexit: confidence with the European partners of the United Kingdom has been eroded, following the attitude of the government of Boris Johnson, deemed cavalier, even contrary to its international commitments in The framework of Northern Ireland.
Very few images or confidences will have filtered from the reception given by King Charles III at the Buckingham Palace on Sunday, the day before the funeral. Straddling the traditions, the new monarch wanted an event devoted to the memory of his mother – the black outfit was essential for the guests. The evening was still a test for the king, who has already met most of the invited personalities, but must take up the challenge of not disappointing, while his mother was considered the best diplomat in the country. Elizabeth II met thirteen American presidents (from Harry Truman to Joe Biden), ten French people (from René Coty to Emmanuel Macron), dozens of African leaders …
British soft power instrument
As chief of the Commonwealth, Charles III must also maintain the cohesion of an organization which brings together fifty-six countries, including fifteen kingdoms. A considerable instrument of the British soft power, weakened by republican impulses, especially in the Caribbean, after the choice of the Barbados to become a Republic, at the end of 2021. In recent days, the king has multiplied the hearings with the representatives of the member countries and Patricia Scotland, the secretary of the organization, was to have the honor, Monday morning – shared with Liz Truss, the British Prime Minister -, to read passages of the Scriptures during mass at the Westminster Abbey. “It’s not time to talk about a referendum on the Republic,” said Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, arriving in London. The Labor Manager promised to organize a consultation on the maintenance of the British monarch as head of the Australian state, but only during a possible second term.
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