Herzog confirms he’ll represent Israel at Queen Elizabeth’s funeral

President Isaac Herzog confirmed on Tuesday that he will represent Israel at Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral in London on September 19.

Hebrew-language reports from Saturday had indicated that Herzog would attend, and that Prime Minister Yair Lapid — who will land a day later in New York for the UN General Assembly — would not fly to the British queen’s service.

Israeli officials confirmed to The Times of Israel on Monday that Lapid would not attend.

Herzog will fly to London on Sunday, and is slated to attend King Charles III’s reception that day for heads of state and royal families. Herzog will also file past the Queen’s coffin as she lies in state at Westminster Hall in London.

On Monday, the president will represent the Jewish state at the funeral in Westminster Abbey.

Though attendees have been told not to use their own vehicles to reach the service, Herzog and US President Joe Biden are among the leaders who will be allowed to travel in their own vehicles for security reasons, according to the British daily The Times.

On Saturday, Herzog, Israel’s head of state, signed a book of condolence for the Queen at the British ambassador’s residence in Tel Aviv.

According to a statement published by Herzog’s office, the president wrote in the book: “On behalf of the State and the People of Israel, I express my deepest condolences on the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, whose reign was momentous and historic.

“She was an icon of stability and a beacon of morality in the service of her people. May G-d bless King Charles III and may he reign in peace,” the message read.

Herzog added a biblical verse from the Book of Proverbs: “The king by justice establishes the land.”

Earlier Saturday, two days after his mother’s death elevated him to the throne, King Charles III was officially proclaimed Britain’s monarch in a pomp-filled ceremony steeped in ancient tradition and political symbolism — and, for the first time, broadcast live online and on air.

On Monday, hundreds of lawmakers crowded into the 1,000-year-old Westminster Hall at the Houses of Parliament for a service, rich in pageantry, in which Parliament offered its condolences to the king.

A trumpet fanfare greeted the king and Camilla, the queen consort, as they entered the hall, which was packed with hundreds of legislators.

Charles told members of the House of Commons and House of Lords that he would follow his late mother in upholding “the precious principles of constitutional governance” that underpin the UK’s political system.

The hall, with its magnificent hammer-beam roof, is the oldest part of the parliamentary complex — a remnant of the medieval Palace of Westminster that once stood on the site.

“As I stand before you today, I cannot help but feel the weight of history which surrounds us and which reminds us of the vital parliamentary traditions to which members of both Houses dedicate yourselves, with such personal commitment for the betterment of us all,” Charles said.

On Tuesday, Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin will be flown to London from Scotland on Tuesday night, where the coffin will lie in state at the Houses of Parliament Palace from Wednesday afternoon until the morning of the funeral on September 19.

In Scotland on Sunday, thousands of people lined streets and roadsides as the Queen’s oak coffin was borne from her beloved Balmoral Castle summer retreat, where she died on Thursday, to Edinburgh. In the Scottish capital the next day, the coffin was escorted to St. Giles’ Cathedral by Queen Elizabeth’s four children, where a thanksgiving service was held.

Charles, Anne, and Edward all wore military uniforms during the procession, but Andrew did not. The Royal Navy veteran was stripped of his honorary military titles and was removed as a working royal over his friendship with the notorious US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Earlier, a car carrying Charles and his wife Camilla passed the crowds packed behind metal barriers along the Royal Mile, the road between Holyroodhouse and St. Giles’ Cathedral. Onlookers clapped and waved as the king’s limousine passed.

Charles and Camilla got out of their car at Holyroodhouse and greeted people, and looked at floral tributes before a gun salute boomed from Edinburgh Castle.

After visiting Scotland, Charles embarked on a tour of the other nations that make up the United Kingdom — he visited the Northern Ireland capital, Belfast, on Tuesday and Wales on Friday.

The nation will observe a minute of silence next Sunday, the evening before the queen’s funeral. The “moment of reflection” will take place at 8 p.m. (1900 GMT). People were encouraged to mark the silence at home or at community events.

Agencies contributed to this report.