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Editorial | Even in death, Queen Elizabeth proves to be a uniter

  • Presidents, prime ministers and monarchs from all over attended Elizabeth’s state funeral, a reminder of what a globalised world should be all about as opposed to confrontation

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Pall bearers carry the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II past mourners into St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle on Monday. Photo: AFP

If any further evidence were needed that the death of Queen Elizabeth brought the world together over the past 11 days like no other event, it was to be found at her state funeral.

It was a landmark in world affairs not seen since the pandemic began keeping people apart – a gathering of heads of state and governments among 500 dignitaries that also included kings and queens and emperors.

There has been nothing remotely like it since the funeral of South Africa’s first black leader, Nelson Mandela, nine years ago. That was a different era, barely recognisable now amid Covid-19, war in Ukraine and geopolitical tensions.

The funeral was therefore a rare opportunity for face-to-face meetings. Moreover it came ahead of the annual debate beginning this week in the United Nations General Assembly, which may seem anticlimactic.

Coming together, even if in mourning, is a reminder of what a globalised world should be all about, as opposed to confrontation.

The latter reared its head in an unconfirmed report, later disproved, that a Chinese delegation was denied admission to the queen’s lying in state, because of reciprocal Chinese sanctions on British MPs who accused Beijing of human rights abuses in Xinjiang.

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