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Who is Alessandra Viggiano Marra? Woman goes viral after being snubbed by doorman at Queen’s funeral

The diplomat was left hanging in perhaps the most public place imaginable

LONDON, ENGLAND: The woman who became something of a viral sensation after being snubbed by the man who welcomed visitors to Westminster Abbey for the Queen's funeral is revealed to be the wife of the Argentine ambassador to the UK.

Married to Javier Figueroa, Alessandra Viggiano Marra, who herself is a diplomat, was left hanging in perhaps the most public place imaginable. The incident grabbed headlines after the video of the doorman not taking her outstretched hand started doing the rounds on social media.

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The TV footage from the mourning ceremony, which was being streamed by millions of people, captured a royal doorman greeting a number of royal members and guests at the venue by shaking their hands. But when Ms Marra, joined by her husband, reached out her palm expecting a similar acknowledgment, the man ignored her and appeared to brush her hand away with his left arm.

The obviously frustrated diplomat then seemed to mutter something under her breath as she made her way into the Westminster Abbey to pay her last respects to Queen Elizabeth II, who died on Thursday, September 09. It didn’t take long for viewers to point out the cringeworthy moment and make her the butt of many jokes on social media.

"I don’t know who she is…and as much as it didn’t look great - I did piss my sides laughing," someone wrote on Twitter. "Who is this person? An ongoing beef or what? I’d really like to know," another said. A third noted, "She's absolutely fuming." 

Last year, Ms Marra joined her husband at Buckingham Palace for a meeting with the late monarch - held virtually due to Covid restrictions at the time. The couple was in London to present 'letters of credence' - the formal papers accrediting an ambassador as head of a diplomatic mission.

However, this was not the only awkward moment captured at the state funeral on Monday, September 09. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese appeared to get the cold shoulder while attending the Queen’s funeral as BBC commentators reeled off the names of world leaders entering the chapel to pay their last respects.

As per the claims made by the experts, the broadcast of the Queen’s funeral broke a number of streaming records including the Live8 concerts in 2005, Sydney's New Year's Eve firework celebrations in 2010, and the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana. The majestic funeral was attended by more than 2000 royal members and world leaders. The funeral was most difficult for King Charles, who lost his beloved mother. Accompanied by his siblings, the new King looked tearful during the service.