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Daily Record
Daily Record
Politics
Peter Davidson

World leaders to travel to Queen's funeral by bus as state cars, helicopters and private jets banned

World leaders attending the Queen's funeral next week will be packed onto buses and taken en masse to Westminster Abbey, according to a leaked document.

Royals, presidents and prime ministers heading to London for the state funeral on September 19 have also been asked to take commercial flights instead of private jets. Helicopters, such as Joe Biden's Marine One will be banned, from transporting VIPs about.

A document seen by Politico revealed leaders won't be allowed to use their own state cars to pay their respects at the service, instead they will be bused in from a secret location in west London.

It means Biden and his wife Jill may not travel to the UK on Air Force One or get about the capital in the Beast.

The protocol for the service is very particular and only leaders and their partners are invited from each country being represented.

An official document from the UK Foreign Office says "because of tight security and road restrictions" they must leave their own cars and use the coaches supplied.

The guidance, sent out to overseas embassies on Saturday evening, said 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.”

Any head of state who is unable to make the funeral will be able to send someone in their place. Following the funeral the new King will host world leaders for a reception at Buckingham Palace.

The overseas dignitaries will also be able to view the Queen's body as it lies in state and sign a condolence book.

A second FCDO document detailing logistical arrangements goes on to say: “Multiple and comprehensive layers of security will be in place across London and at all the official venues used for the state funeral and associated events."

After the funeral, leaders will walk across the Abbey grounds to a reception held by new Foreign Secretary James Cleverly.

What is a state funeral?

A state funeral is a rare honour and is mostly reserved for the sovereign. The only monarch not to be given a state funeral in the last 295 years was Edward VIII, who abdicated.

State funerals have, on rare occasions, been held for distinguished figures including Sir Isaac Newton, Lord Nelson, the Duke of Wellington and wartime prime minister Sir Winston Churchill.

The last state funeral in the UK was Churchill's in 1965. The last state funeral for a sovereign was for the Queen's father, George VI, in 1952.

Who pays?

State funerals are publicly funded and are the responsibility of the Earl Marshal and the College of Arms. These large-scale events observe strict rules of protocol, held to honour people of national significance.

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