The King of the Ashanti Ghana, His Majesty Osei Tutu IIdeclined an invitation extended to him and his wife to attend Westminster Abbey in London for the royal funeral of the late Queen Elizabeth IIformer Queen of the United Kingdom
Reasons for the absence of the King of the Ashanti at the Queen’s funeral Elizabeth II, a traditional source at Manhyia Palace said traditional restrictions prevent the king from attending the funeral. According to this source, Ashanti tradition prevents the King from viewing the remains of a deceased person, hence his inability to attend the Queen’s very important state funeral.
This version is confirmed by a tweet shared by Ashanti Nation, an account that relays information from the Ashanti Kingdom, that an “Official Communication sent to Her Majesty’s Commonwealth and Development Office and Foreign Affairs on September 15, 2022”.
Contrary to this version, another source in Manhyia Palace said that Otumfuo’s decision not to attend the Queen’s funeral has nothing to do with tradition and is rather personal and that the King Charles III had been made aware. After King Osei Tutu II declined Buckingham Palace’s invitation, this second source added that no delegation will be sent to the UK to represent the king.
Prior to this development, note that the secretariat of the British royal family, on the instruction of King Charles III, invited the 16th king of the Ashanti Kingdom and his wife to attend the royal funeral in London on Monday, September 19.
The Queen Elizabeth IIthe UK’s longest-serving monarch, died on Thursday 08 September at Balmoral at the age of 96, after reigning for 70 years.
