On September 19, thousands of people gathered in London’s streets to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth II. Numerous well-known people could be seen in the sombre audience, including Sandra Oh from “Grey’s Anatomy,” who walked behind the queen’s coffin as it was taken from Westminster Abbey to St. George’s Chapel in Windsor for a committal service. The internet was taken aback by Oh’s attendance at the funeral, which was attended by members of the royal family and foreign leaders, but the “Princess Diaries” star had excellent cause to obtain an invitation.
In June of this year, the 51-year-old Canadian-American actress was made an officer in the Order of Canada. Sir Patrick Vallance and Dame Kiri Te Kanawa were also present during the Westminster Abbey liturgy.
The Order of Canada “celebrates people’s lives, endeavours, and triumphs from all walks of life” from coast to coast. Sandra Oh, a dual citizen of Canada and the US, was named an officer of the Order of Canada in June, which is the second-highest civilian accolade in Canada’s honours system. According to Governor-General Mary Simon‘s official statement, Oh got the title “for her artistic career replete with noteworthy stage, television, and cinema appearances in Canada and abroad.” Oh joins more than 7,600 other members of the Order across Canada as an inductee.
In order to recognise individuals “whose service moulds our society, whose ideas inspire our imaginations, and whose compassion unifies our communities,” Queen Elizabeth II established the Order of Canada in 1967. The Order of Canada “celebrates the lives, endeavours and triumphs of citizens from coast to coast and from all walks of life,” according to the General Governor. She goes on, “Today’s appointments represent a diversity of industries, have excelled on a national and worldwide scale, and have demonstrated creativity, innovation, and philanthropy. Additionally, through their extraordinary dedication and commitment, they have improved their communities and Canada. Congratulations to those who have been appointed to the Order of Canada and to those who have received promotions within the Order.”
After being appointed the youngest Chief Scout of the UK and Overseas Territories at age 35 in 2009 and beginning his second term in the job in 2015, “Running Wild” host Bear Grylls also attended the burial of Queen Elizabeth II. Former British Prime Ministers Gordon Brown and Tony Blair, First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon, President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau were also in attendance.
Others in attendance included Queen Letizia of Spain, King Felipe VI of Spain, Queen Rania of Jordan, and King Abdullah II of Jordan, Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese and his partner Jodie Haydon, Prince Albert and Princess Charlene of Monaco, President of Israel Isaac Herzog, Emperor of Japan Naruhito and Empress Masako, and Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern and Clarke Gayford.
Among those present were King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway, King Harald and Queen Sonja of Italy, Queen Margrethe II and Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, Princess Beatrix and King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil and his wife Michelle Bolsonaro, King Sergio Mattarella of Italy, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, , and Queen Anne-Marie of Greece.
