Five hundred dignitaries from around the world are expected for the occasion at Westminster Abbey in London on September 19, according to the government.
The reception of the hundreds of foreign dignitaries expected in London for the funeral of Elizabeth II “will depend on individual constraintsof each, Downing Street said on Monday after press reports suggesting an incentive for commercial flights and an obligation to travel by bus. Based on government memos it has obtained, the Politico website reported on Sunday that world leaders will have to avoid private flights to travel to the UK for the funeral of the monarch, who died Thursday in 96 years old.
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Some 500 dignitaries from around the world are expected for the occasion at Westminster Abbey in London on September 19 according to the government, including US President Joe Biden and many crowned heads. “Clearly, the modalities concerning in particular the means of transport of the leaders will vary according to individual constraints. Recommendations are only recommendationssaid a spokesperson for the British Prime Minister on Monday.
The Queen’s funeral represents a huge security and logistical challenge for the authorities who, for these reasons, would have asked to give priority to “when it’s possible» commercial flights to private aircraft to travel to the UK. Also forgotten are the helicopters to get around the British capital and the private cars to go to the funeral: world leaders could go to Westminster Abbey by bus, says Politico.
“Biden on the bus?”
“Can you imagine Joe Biden on a bus?», Annoyed a foreign ambassador in London on Sunday, quoted by Politico. The American president travels in his Air Force One plane and moves with his armored vehicle, nicknamed “The Beast“. “It’s up to the US to decide how they prefer he (Biden) travels“said Downing Street. “This is a large scale operation with some 500 dignitaries expected and an already huge crowd“, indicated to AFP a source at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “The logistics have been carefully prepared to make it as smooth as possible.»
Whatever, “space will be limited“, has already warned Downing Street while Politico reports that only one representative per country and his or her husband or wife will be allowed inside the abbey. And if, despite British recommendations, leaders still arrive in their private plane, they will not be able to land at London’s Heathrow airport but will have to aim for “less congested airports“, according to the media.
Joe Biden, but also French President Emmanuel Macron, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and many members of royal families from around the world are expected in London for this historic funeral.
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