Retired Archbishop Desmond Tutu will miss his close friend Nelson Mandela's funeral. 

He has confirmed that he hasn't been invited. In a statement, Desmond Tutu says had he been informed that he would not be welcome "there is no way on earth that I would have missed it." 
"Much as I would have loved to attend the service to say a final farewell to someone I loved and treasured, it would have been disrespectful to Tata (Mandela) to gatecrash what was billed as a private family funeral," Tutu said in a statement. "Had I or my office been informed that I would be welcome there is no way on earth that I would have missed it."

Government officials in South Africa have insisted Tutu was on the guest list. Tutu and the current ANC government have clashed in the past, with Tutu describing the current leaders of South Africa s "disgraceful" two years ago.

Meanwhile, the Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams and party colleague Richard McAuley formed part of a Guard of Honour at a official ANC send-of for Nelson Mandela's remains from Pretoria today.

Rogan Ward is a photographer with the Reuters news agency. 

He outlines some of the preparations.