World leaders could be BUSSED to Queen's funeral and asked to fly COMMERCIAL
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM: As the royal family gears up for the late Queen Elizabeth II state funeral on September 19, world leaders from across the globe are expected to attend the funeral. According to reports, leaders and their spouses are all advised to arrive in the UK on commercial flights and are banned from using private state vehicles due to high security.
US President Joe Biden and wife Jill Biden are among those who will attend the Queen's funeral at Westminster Abbey. A no-fly zone has been declared and dignitaries will instead be bussed in from a site in west London as helicopters and limos are prohibited because of tight security and road restriction. Queen Elizabeth II died on Thursday, September 8, peacefully at her Balmoral estate due to "episodic mobility issues."
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According to a statement released by Politico, the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office advised that "foreign leaders should arrive in the UK on commercial flights and leaders insisting on traveling by private jet should head for 'less busy airports' around London." Leaders are also informed that London Heathrow airport would not be available for private flight arrangements or aircraft parking.
The FDCO document sent to overseas embassies stated that due to limited space only leaders and their spouses or partner would be invited. The document read that it “regrets that, because of limited space at the state funeral service and associated events, no other members of the principal guest’s family, staff or entourage may be admitted.” Heads of a state that are unable to attend may choose someone else as their official representatives, such as a head of government or senior minister.
King Charles III will host a reception for all the overseas leaders on the evening before the funeral services at Buckingham Palace and leaders of the state will be able to attend the lying-in-state of the queen’s body, and sign the condolence book at Lancaster House which will be shot by the media as the leaders pay tribute to the Queen.
Queen Elizabeth's coffin will make its way to St Giles' Cathedral in a funeral procession on Monday, September 12, as the grieving people of Scotland say goodbye to the beloved Queen. Her body will lie in rest there until Tuesday, September 13, when it will be flown to RAF Northolt by a military plane. "Whilst elite SAS troops are reportedly being deployed and 10,000 police officers will be on duty to throw a ring of steel around London next week," according to The US Sun. On Wednesday, September 14, there will be a public procession at Buckingham palace and her body will then lie in state at Westminster Hall for the next four days until the morning of her funeral, followed by another procession where heads of the states from around the world will attend the significant event.