WASHINGTON, Broadcasting news corporation : President Biden has formally accepted his invitation to attend Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral next week, the White House said Sunday. The president will travel to England with First Lady Jill Biden for the Sept. 19 service at London’s Westminster Abbey. Biden had said Friday he planned on attending the funeral for the 96-year-old monarch, who died Thursday at her Balmoral estate in Scotland.
“I don’t know what the details are yet but I’ll be going,” he told reporters before boarding Air Force One. The president also said that he had not yet spoken to King Charles III, who gained the throne upon the death of his mother. “I know him, I haven’t spoken to him, I did not call him yet,” he said. The late queen’s funeral is expected to be attended by scores of world leaders. Russia’s Vladimir Putin, however, will not be in attendance, according to Sky News. A Kremlin spokesperson said Putin sent the new king a note expressing his condolence. French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to attend, according to Sky News, as is Japan’s Emperor Naruhito. Queen Elizabeth II was Britain’s longest reigning monarch. Her funeral will mark the end to the 10-day period of national mourning, and will be a public holiday across the UK. With Post wires. NEWS COLLECTED FROM NEW YORK POST.