Letter barring Zimbabwean President from attending Queen's funeral is fake – UK govt

A letter supposedly from Buckingham Palace on Thursday barring Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa entry to the Queen's burial is bogus, according to the British Embassy in Harare.

President Mnangagwa has been invited to attend Monday's burial for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey, the embassy announced on Twitter.

“The letter below is fake,” it said, attaching a copy of the letter making the rounds on social media.

Robinson shared a photo of Mr. Mnangagwa signing the embassy's condolence book on Friday.

Additionally, Mr. Mnangagwa shared a picture of himself signing and smiling with the ambassador on his official Twitter account.

“It was an honour to sign the condolence book for the late Queen Elizabeth II at the @UKinZimbabwe Embassy and to pass on my support to @HMAMelanieR,” he tweeted.

The bogus letter, which was allegedly sent on behalf of King Charles III, claimed that Mr. Mnangagwa was not invited to the queen's funeral at Westminster Abbey because of travel limitations the West had placed on him and other government officials, as well as because of human rights breaches.

One of the largest international gatherings of the century will take place on Monday at Westminster Abbey in London as Queen Elizabeth II is given a state burial.

More than 500 dignitaries from around the world, including world leaders, politicians, celebrities, and European royals, will be in London to pay their respects to Britain's longest-reigning monarch, who passed away on September 8 at the age of 96, according to CNN.

Invitations have been sent, despite the fact that no formal guest list has been made public.

Nigeria has also been invited, according to the British High Commission in Nigeria.

But other nations received invitations solely at the ambassadorial level, while others received no invitations at all.

According to Britain's PA Media news agency, representatives from Syria, Venezuela, and Afghanistan have not been requested to send a message.

Representatives from North Korea and Nicaragua have been invited “only at ambassadorial level,” PA added.

There won't be any leaders or representatives from Myanmar, Belarus, or Russia.

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