Russia has described the decision not to invite its representatives to the Queen’s funeral as “profoundly immoral” and “blasphemous”.
Leaders and dignitaries from around the world have been invited to the late monarch’s state funeral, but Russia’s Vladimir Putin and others were snubbed.
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“We view this British attempt to use a national tragedy that has touched the hearts of millions of people around the world for geopolitical purposes to settle scores with our country during the days of mourning as profoundly immoral,” Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said.
“This is especially blasphemous to the memory of Elizabeth II, who is known to have served during World War II in the territorial defence ranks of the British Armed Forces fighting the Nazis,” she added.
Ties between the UK and Russia are strained following the February invasion, with Britain taking a lead among Western nations in sending weapons to Ukraine.
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“The unifying image of Queen Elizabeth II, who has not interfered with politics as a matter of principle during her reign, has not become an obstacle to London’s dissenting attacks, which are subject to accomplishing their own conjectural objectives,” Ms Zakharova said.
“For our part, we express our profound condolences to the British people for the great loss that befell them.”
The Queen’s lying in state has entered its first full day, with mourners braving lengthy queues for the chance to file past the late monarch’s coffin.
Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to walk through the ancient hall of Westminster Palace after the doors opened to the public at 5pm on Wednesday.
It will stay open for four full days until 6.30am on Monday – the day of her funeral.
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There are predictions the line could stretch for up to 10 miles with waits of up to 30 hours to get into Westminster Hall.
However, as of 5am on Thursday it was 2.1 miles long – stretching to Southwark Bridge.
Sky News reporter Olive Enokido-Lineham waited six hours to enter the palace, suggesting wait times are much shorter than initially feared.
Police officers, volunteers, and stewards are managing the queue, while toilets and water fountains are being provided at various points along the route.
People waiting in line are being given a coloured and numbered wristband to prevent any queue jumping, and to allow them to leave for short periods, such as to get food.
Watch the Queen lying in state
Rehearsals for funeral take place overnight as King takes day for reflection
Rehearsals have been taking place overnight for the Queen’s funeral.
Members of the military could be seen in Westminster carrying a stand-in coffin, ahead of Monday’s state funeral.
Image: An early morning rehearsal for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth
King Charles has returned to his Highgrove home in Gloucestershire. He will have a private day of reflection and is not expected to attend any public events.
In the detailed planning for the aftermath of the Queen’s death – known as Operation London Bridge – a day was set aside at this point for the new monarch to have some time away from public duties.
The period will allow the King to pause, but it is understood he will be working in preparation for his new role and will already be receiving his red boxes of state papers.
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Elsewhere, King’s Counsel will take part in wreath laying after the death of the Queen.
Senior barristers, now known as KCs instead of QCs after the proclamation of the King, have been invited to dress in robes and court mourning attire.
They will then gather outside the Old Bailey before walking to Gray’s Inn Chapel for the ceremony.
Meghan postpones celebratory event
Image: Sophie, Countess of Wessex, the Prince and Princess of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex
Meanwhile, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, has postponed a celebratory event she was due to attend as a woman of honour, as well as the release of her podcast, out of respect for the Queen.
Meghan was selected alongside other high-profile women, including Hillary Clinton, Oprah Winfrey and Malala, as part of US outlet Variety’s Power of Women event.
The honourees will feature on the cover of the publication’s Power of Women special edition, with an event taking place on Wednesday, 28 September.
“Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, was chosen as one of one of this year’s stellar honorees,” Variety said.
“The Duchess’ cover will be postponed to a later date, out of respect for the recent passing of Queen Elizabeth II.
“Similarly, she will not attend the Power of Women event in Los Angeles later this month.”
Meghan’s podcast, Archetypes, will also not be released during the duration of the mourning period for the Queen.
Image: The bearer party carries the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II into Westminster Hall
Among her fellow honourees was US talk show host Oprah Winfrey, who conducted the explosive interview with Harry and Meghan in March 2021.
Speaking recently at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), Winfrey said she hoped the Queen’s death will allow the Royal Family to come together and provide “an opportunity for peacemaking”.
The royals were reunited as they joined a procession behind the Queen as she left Buckingham Palace for the final time on Wednesday.
King Charles, the Prince of Wales and Duke of Sussex accompanied the monarch on the journey to Westminster Hall for her lying in state. The Queen Consort, Princess of Wales, Countess of Wessex and Duchess of Sussex travelled by car.
Prince Andrew will wear military uniform for the final vigil around the Queen’s coffin during the lying in state at Westminster Hall – but not for her funeral or other ceremonial events in the coming days.
The disgraced royal was stripped of all of his honorary military roles in January, including Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, after the furore over his friendship with paedophile billionaire Jeffrey Epstein.
The Duke of York paid millions to settle a civil sexual assault case with Virginia Giuffre, a woman he claimed never to have met.
He denied all her claims.
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Andrew, a former Royal Navy officer who served in the Falklands War, retained his rank as a Vice Admiral.
While working royals including the King, the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal and the Earl of Wessex will parade in military uniform at the state funeral next Monday and on other occasions in the coming week, Andrew will not, apart from at the vigil.
As a non-working member of the Royal Family, the Duke of York will wear uniform as a special mark of respect for the Queen at the vigil in Westminster Hall, sources said.
It has not yet been confirmed whether the Duke of Sussex – also a non-working royal – will wear military dress.
At the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral in April 2021, the issue of military dress was dealt with by the Queen, who decided that no members of the Royal Family should wear uniform.
It was a break with tradition but seen as the most eloquent solution to a host of problems.
Reports had suggested Andrew was considering wearing the uniform of an admiral.
He was due to be promoted to Admiral in 2020 to mark his 60th birthday but this did not go ahead following the fallout from his disastrous Newsnight appearance.
