Foreign heads of state and their partners attending the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II have been asked to arrive in the UK on commercial flights and have been banned from using helicopters to move around the capital.
In addition, they have been told they will not be able to use their own official cars to attend the funeral, scheduled for Monday 19 September, but will instead be bussed to Westminster Abbey from a site in west London en masse, Politico reports.
Official documents obtained by the outlet circulated to embassies on Saturday also confirmed that only the heads of state and their partner from each country have been invited.
The official capacity of Westminster Abbey is 2,200 people, and it is expected to be full to the point that having more than one senior representative for each nation plus a spouse would be untenable.
The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office said in the protocol document 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”.
Those heads of state unable to attend are asked to choose another representative such as a head of government or senior minister.
King Charles III will host a reception for overseas leaders at Buckingham Palace on Sunday 18 September, the evening before the funeral.
In addition, heads of state are invited to attend the lying-in-state of the queen’s body, and sign the condolence book at Lancaster House immediately afterward.
While at Lancaster House, they will also be able to deliver a tribute to the late queen of up to three minutes, which will be recorded for the media.
On the day of the funeral, there will be tight security and road restrictions across much of central London and therefore heads of state have been told to meet at a site in west London from where they will be escorted to the abbey in coaches.
After the service, foreign leaders are invited to attend a reception hosted by Foreign Secretary James Cleverly at Dean’s Yard, within the grounds of the abbey, to which they will be escorted on foot.
They will then be returned to the site in west London by coach to collect their cars.
“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,” another FCDO document states that details logistics for those traveling from overseas.
It further warns…
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