India’s President Droupadi Murmu attends Her Majesty The Queen’s state funeral

Image by High Commission of India/Twitter

Ahead of Her Majesty The Queen’s funeral that took place on Monday, 19 September, India’s newly appointed President Droupadi Murmu met King Charles III at a reception held in Buckingham Palace on Sunday.

The Rashtrapati Bhawan tweeted: “President Droupadi Murmu signed the Condolence Book in the memory of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Lancaster House, London.”

The President also paid a visit to the Westminster Hall in London where the queen’s coffin was lying-in-State to pay her last respects.

“President Droupadi Murmu visited Westminster Hall London where the body of Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II is lying in state. The President offered tributes to the departed soul on her own behalf and on behalf of the people of India,” Rashtrapati Bhawan tweeted earlier.

The President was on an unofficial tour on behalf of the Government of India to the United Kingdom from September 17 to 19 after being invited to attend the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.

President Murmu was accompanied by her entourage members, including foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra. On her arrival at the airport, she was received by the High Commissioner of India to the United Kingdom.

She attended the state funeral service at West Gate of Westminster Abbey which saw several thousands of people in attendance. Later in the afternoon, she attended the reception hosted by James Cleverly, UK’s Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs. Queen Elizabeth II, who was the former head of state of the UK and Head of the Commonwealth of Nations passed away on September 8 at the age of 96. She was laid to rest with full state honours at King George VI’s chapel on September 19, next to her husband Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh.