Seven of Britain's most elite figures are among those attending highly secretive talks at Bilderberg 2017.

They are gathering at a hotel in Virginia in the US for a weekend with 124 other powerbrokers.

Bilderberg - named after the hotel it was first staged at in the Netherlands 63 years ago - is a forum for top European and North American influencers.

It offers an opportunity to discuss pressing global issues in private, which organisers say means attendees "are not bound by the conventions of their office".

Image: Demonstrators protested against the Bilderburg meeting in Watford, Hertfordshire, in 2013

Topics to be discussed at the 65th event include 'The war on information', 'Why is populism growing?' and 'Nuclear proliferation'.


A 'progress' report on President Donald Trump's administration is top of the agenda.

The head of the International Monetary Fund to the king of Holland, and Eric Schmidt, the head of Google's parent company, are invited.

But who are the Britons who made the cut?

:: George Osborne

Image: George Osborne served six years in Government

The former Chancellor, who was sacked by Theresa May after last year's EU referendum, is still in the frame rubbing shoulders with the political elite.

This will be his sixth time at Bilderberg since joining the Conservative front bench in 2003.

He ditched politics for journalism in a shock career change earlier this year, becoming editor of the London Evening Standard newspaper.

Despite standing down as a candidate ahead of the upcoming General Election, Mr Osborne has made no secret of his wish to continue influencing frontline politics.

:: Gideon Rachman

Image: Gideon Rachman is an expert in foreign and financial affairs

Mr Rachman is a veteran financial journalist who has worked as chief foreign affairs columnist for the Financial Times sine 2006.

His interests listed on the FT website include American foreign policy, the EU and globalisation.

He studied history at Cambridge University and later joined The Economist as its Asia, then Britain editor.

Mr Rachman has been invited to Bilderberg multiple times, and the opening of a column he wrote in 2008 is often touted by conspiracy theorists as proof of the group's secret ambitions.

It read: "I have never believed that there is a secret United Nations plot to take over the US. I have never seen black helicopters hovering in the sky above Montana. But, for the first time in my life, I think the formation of some sort of world government is plausible."

:: Andrew Adonis

Image: Lord Adonis rose up the ranks under Tony Blair

Lord Adonis is a long-serving parliamentarian, who rose up the ranks under Tony Blair.

He is currently chair of the National Infrastructure Commission, having served as Transport Secretary in the final year of the New Labour government.

Previously, he was appointed by Mr Blair to head the Number 10 Policy Unit from 2001-2005 and made a life peer.

An Oxford graduate, he grew up in a council children's home until age 11, staying in care until he was 16.

:: Sharon White

Image: Sharon White is the only woman and non-white British invitee

Britain's only female and non-white invitee this year is Sharon White, the chief executive of broadcast regulator Ofcom.

She quickly worked her way up the ranks as a civil servant, becoming Second Permanent Secretary at the Treasury from 2013 until 2015.

Ms White was born in east London, and went to a single-sex comprehensive school before gaining a place at Cambridge University. She was named seventh in the UK Black Powerlist 2015.

:: Sir John Sawers

Image: Sir John Sawers headed the Secret Intelligence Service

Sir John's presence at Bilderberg will see the intelligence and diplomatic services represented.

A former head of MI6, his experience of international affairs spans decades.

He has served as Britain's ambassador to Egypt, an adviser to the Foreign Secretary and permanent representative of the UK to the United Nations.

In the run up to last year's referendum, he wrote a piece warning: "I am worried by the turn that politics in Europe is taking. Extremist pressures are returning, with echoes of the Thirties."

He is the only British Bilderberg invitee not educated at Oxbridge - he studied physics at Nottingham University.

:: Sir Nicholas Houghton

Image: General Sir Nicholas Houghton served in Northern Ireland and Iraq

Sir Nicholas Houghton is a former Chief of Defence Staff and has led key operations in Northern Ireland during The Troubles and Iraq during the conflict that began in 2004.

He was appointed Constable of the Tower of London - the palace's most senior staff role - after his retirement from the Army last year.

Born in Leeds, Sir Nicholas was educated at Oxford University and graduated with an in-service degree in modern history.

:: Marcus Agius

Image: Marcus Agius was the chair of Barclays until 2012

The former group chair of Barclays bank resigned from that role in 2012 over the Libor scandal that rocked the financial services industry.

He has since joined the BBC's executive board and taken a position as chair of the PA Consulting Group.

Mr Agius graduated from Cambridge with a degree in mechanical sciences and economics.