Veteran, lawyer and teacher among nearly 200 recipients of Queen's Birthday Honours to be invited to state funeral
A teacher, a lawyer and an 71-year-old veteran are among the nearly 200 key workers and volunteers to be invited to the Queen's state funeral.
The group of everyday heroes were recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours list in June, and will now get the chance to join royals, politicians and world leaders in Westminster Abbey on Monday.
Around 2,000 people are expected to gather at the historic church to bid a final farewell to Britain's longest reigning monarch.
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Natalie Queiroz, from Birmingham, who teaches children about the dangers of knife crime, was one of three community campaigners from the Midlands to receive an invitation.
In a video message posted on Twitter, she said: "The cat's out of the bag it seems. I was told to keep it secret but I believe everyone now knows - it's a massive, massive honour."
"Just really humbled to be part of such a huge experience and to be able to say thank you to Her late Majesty the Queen and to pay my respects and to fly the flag for Birmingham," she added.
Ms Queiroz, who was recognised with an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours list, survived a 2016 attack while she was heavily pregnant, in which she was stabbed 24 times by her partner.
Other Midlands invitees include Rutland-based MBE recipient Barbara Crellin, who set up her local emergency first responder scheme, and Kevan Liles MBE, who recruited around 2,500 volunteers to help during the pandemic.
While Buckingham Palace has not yet released the full guest list, several hundred dignitaries from around the world are expected to travel to London to pay their respects to the Queen.
Her funeral, set to be one of the biggest logistical and diplomatic events to take place in the UK in decades, will begin at 11am.
'I still don't really believe it'
Father-of-two, Pranav Bhanot, who was honoured for his work supporting people through the COVID-19 pandemic, said he could not believe it when he was invited.
The 34-year-old from Chigwell in Essex, helped deliver 1,200 free meals and was made an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours.
The lawyer also gave "free pro-bono advice for people who had cancelled weddings, couldn't get deposits back, people who lost their jobs because they got made redundant", he said.
Mr Bhanot, a councillor on Chigwell Parish Council, said he received a phone call while putting his two-year-old to sleep on Saturday afternoon.
"I still don't really believe it, as the invite hasn't actually come in yet. It was the last thing I ever expected. It's a huge honour," he said.
"I feel completely out of place because all the headlines are saying there are going to be world leaders and presidents but it will give me a really nice opportunity to pay my respects to someone I hugely admired."
He said he has received few details to date, other than to "wear a dark suit", which he has already gone out and bought.
Mr Bhanot recalled meeting the Queen at an inter-faith event at Lambeth Palace 10 years ago, when he was a student at Manchester University and involved in student politics.
"She was a lot shorter than I thought, but she had this incredible presence, very sweet," he said.
"Very polite and she made me feel very much at ease, even though I almost froze as I couldn't quite believe I was in front of somebody I've seen on television my whole life and who's been a complete constant in my life."
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The Queen's Birthday Honours in June acknowledged 1,134 people in the UK who made outstanding contributions to their community and the country.
The list, which coincided with Platinum Jubilee celebrations, included authors, athletes, politicians, actors and medics who came to prominence during the coronavirus pandemic.
'It's all a bit surreal really'
A 71-year-old veteran was also recognised for his efforts and is among those invited to the Queen's funeral.
Robert Lodge was made an MBE earlier this year for his work with the Red Cypher charity, which supports past and present members of the 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery, and said getting an invitation sparked a "special feeling".
From Weeley Heath in Essex, he joined the Army as an 18-year-old gunner and rose to the rank of captain in 27 years of service.
In 1984, he met the Queen in 1984 and described her as "friendly, straight-talking as everyone knows her to be, and a wonderful person".
"When I was invited to the funeral, it's a duty and I feel privileged, and, 'Why me?', but absolutely blown away with the fact I've been invited," Mr Lodge said.
"I just feel very humbled. This year, MBE, Queen dying, being invited to her funeral... it's all a bit surreal, really.
"But looking at the pictures on the television and all the people I speak to, there's an outpouring of grief. It's just amazing."
Other volunteers who will attend the Queen's state funeral include a man from Essex who runs a charity which helps to pay for veterans' funerals, a woman from London who set up a charity which helps adults deal with grief, and a woman from North Shields who built a special play centre for disabled children.
The prime minister's official spokesperson said: "I can confirm that among the guests who have been invited to attend will be almost 200 people who were recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours this year, that was in June.
"These individuals drawn from across the UK were recognised for their extraordinary contributions in areas including the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, people who volunteered in their communities, charity workers and those who work in healthcare, education and the wider public sector."
After the funeral has ended, some 800 people, including members of the Queen's Household and Windsor estate staff, will attend a committal service in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.
