Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday attended the state funeral for the late Queen Elizabeth ll at Westminster Abbey.
Nigeria’s number two citizen was spotted dressed in black agbada.
Hundreds of world leaders and foreign dignitaries are gathered in the UK for the queen’s funeral including United States’ President Joe Biden.
Nations not invited included Syria and Venezuela because London does not have normal diplomatic ties. Britain also did not invite representatives from Russia, Belarus or Myanmar after it imposed economic sanctions on those countries.
The main service began shortly before 11am (10:00 GMT) at Westminster Abbey in central London, followed by a committal service at 4pm (15:00 GMT) in Windsor. A private service will be held at 7:30pm (18:30 GMT).
Osinbajo departed Abuja for London on Saturday, September 17.
Upon his arrival in London on Sunday, according to his media aide Laolu Akande, the vice president paid respects at the queen’s lying-in-state at Westminster.
He also signed the condolence register, saying, “Nigeria joins government, people of UK, Commonwealth, and rest of the world in expressing our sincere condolence to the royal family on the passing of a monarch for all seasons. May the Lord bless her memory.”
Prof Osinbajo was received by UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Affairs, James Cleverly.
At the meeting, Cleverly expressed gratitude for Nigeria’s solidarity with the UK at its time of grief and both men discussed the interest of the British Prime Minister, Liz Truss, in deepening the relationship with Nigeria.
On Sunday evening, Osinbajo and several other world leaders – including members of the Commonwealth, heads of state, governors-general, prime ministers, and foreign royal families – were received by King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla in Buckingham Palace.
Queen Elizabeth, Britain’s longest-serving monarch, died aged 96 on September 8 at Balmoral, Scotland.
