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Israel's President Herzog 'taking own transport to Queen's funeral'
The majority of world leaders will be transported to the funeral on buses
September 16, 2022 11:16
1 min read
The majority of world leaders will be transported to the funeral on buses
September 16, 2022 11:16The President of Israel will be using his own transportation to get to the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on Monday, according to media reports.
It is believed that, due to security requirements, President Isaac Herzog will not join most other world leaders on the buses being arranged by the UK government due to the number expected to attend.
According to the BBC, President Herzog is one of only a small number of world leaders being permitted to use their own transport to the mammoth event.
U.S. President Joe Biden will be allowed to use his armoured vehicle known as the Beast, and The Times reports that President Macron of France will also be permitted to use his own vehicle.
However, Emperor Naruhito of Japan, as well as royalty from Spain, Belgium, Sweden, and the Netherlands will be bused en masse to the funeral at Westminster Abbey from an undisclosed location in West London, Politico reports.
HM Queen Elizabeth II was known far and wide simply as The Queen. Her passing is the end of an era. Together with the Israeli people, I grieve her loss and extend my deepest sympathies to the British people and all nations of the Commonwealth, who have lost their matriarch. pic.twitter.com/SvTlMyTSyC
— יצחק הרצוג Isaac Herzog (@Isaac_Herzog) September 8, 2022
Israeli officials refused to confirm or deny the security arrangements for the president.
Since the moment the Queen died last Thursday, British officials have been scrambling to organise the funeral, which one likened to "100 state visits" simultaneously.
Leaders who arrive on Sunday will be invited to attend a reception with King Charles III at Buckingham Palace, and special arrangements are being made for those who wish to see the Queen's coffin lying in state in Westminster Hall.
President Herzog will be among the leaders to attend the lying in state, Israeli media reports.
The Foreign, Development and Commonwealth Office (FCDO) has reportedly set up a central headquarters known as "The Hangar" where officials handling security, communications, protocol, and diplomatic engagement are based.
No representatives from Syria, Venezuela or Afghanistan have been invited due to poor diplomatic relations. No representative from Russia or Belarus has been invited due to the war against Ukraine, and Iran, North Korea and Nicaragua have been asked to only send a senior diplomat, the BBC reports.