Olena Zelenska, the first lady of Ukraine,
(Picture: AP)Ukraine’s First Lady is set to join world leaders for the Queen’s funeral, it has been reported.
While President Volodymyr Zelensky will not be able to attend following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, his wife Olena Zelenska will represent her husband and their country.
Russia’s Vladimir Putin has not been invited.
Mrs Zelenska is among 500 heads of state and dignitaries invited to the funeral service on Monday and also to a VIP reception to be hosted by King Charles and the Queen Consort at Buckingham Palace on Sunday evening.
A source told the Sun: “Olena Zelenska’s presence is yet another sign of the global support for Ukraine while Russia is isolated. Britain is one of Ukraine’s staunchest allies. Her presence at the funeral is a sign of that friendship and mutual respect.”
Global leaders are to arrive in London this weekend ahead of the funeral.
More than 30 heads of state are set to attend, including US president Joe Biden, France’s Emmanuel Macron, New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, Australian PM Anthony Albanese and Brazil’s president Jair Bolsonaro.
Mr Biden, who will be accompanied by US First Lady Jill Biden, has been given special permission to use his armoured limousine during what will be a huge security operation.
Dozens of members of foreign royal families, including Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan, will also be among the 2,000 mourners at Westminster Abbey.
“This is the biggest international event we have hosted in decades,” a Whitehall source told the Daily Telegraph.
The source compared the logistical task to organising “hundreds of state visits” within a matter of days.
