President departs to UK to attend Queen Elizabeth's funeral
The president and first lady will attend the state funeral on Monday and convey their last respects to the late queen.
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President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and First Lady Fazna Ahmed departed on Friday evening on an official visit to the United Kingdom to attend the funeral of Britain's late Queen Elizabeth II.
In a statement, the President's Office said that the president and first lady will attend the state funeral on Monday and convey their last respects to the late queen. They are scheduled to conclude the visit and return to the Maldives on 22 September, it added.
"[The purpose of the visit is] to convey their condolences and sympathies in person to His Majesty King Charles III and the family of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II," the statement read.
Queen Elizabeth, Britain's longest-reigning monarch and the nation's figurehead for seven decades, died aged 96 on 8 September. Her eldest son Charles, 73, automatically became king of the United Kingdom and the head of state of 14 other realms including Australia, Canada and New Zealand.
Meanwhile, President Solih had earlier declared three days of national mourning following the passing of Queen Elizabeth. The Maldivian flag was flown at half mast during the three days of national mourning.
