Today, Downing Street admitted that “arrangements will vary” for world leaders, amid rumours that Japan’s Emperor Naruhito may be among those forced to ride a bus to the burial of Queen Elizabeth II.
Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako have been announced as guests travelling into London on Monday for the state funeral of Her Majesty.
They will be joined by other world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro.
Leaked Government records disclose preparations for world leaders to travel together by bus to Westminster Abbey for Monday’s event, as opposed to utilising private automobiles.
British and American authorities have now downplayed the possibility of Mr. Biden taking a bus into downtown London.
They indicated that the President of the United States would still be allowed to utilise his armoured vehicle, nicknamed “The Beast,” when travelling around the capital.
However, it has now come to light that Emperor Naruhito would be travelling to the funeral on a bus.
According to Politico, the 62-year-old, along with other visiting royals, will be among those bused en masse to the service under Foreign Office directives.
According to the website, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium, King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden, and King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands would also be placed on a shuttle bus.
Some embassies had made fruitless attempts to obtain exceptions to the Foreign Office’s instructions, the report said.
When asked about the report that Emperor Naruhito will be on a bus on Monday, a spokeswoman for Number 10 said, “I wouldn’t be getting into specific arrangements.
“Some arrangements will differ depending on the needs of the different leaders, so I’m not going to speculate.”
She added, “Arrangements will vary depending on the needs and discussions with the leaders and their teams.”
A Foreign Office source declined to comment on the prospect that Emperor Naruhito will be bused to Monday’s burial, stating simply, “There’s a transport plan in place”.
This will be Emperor Naruhito’s first abroad journey since he ascended to the throne in May 2019.
A cultural concept rooted in the Shinto faith, which deems death unclean, dictates that a Japanese monarch does not attend funerals, whether they occur at home or abroad.
However, Japanese authorities have emphasised the strong relationship between the royal dynasties of the United Kingdom and Japan.
In the 1980s, while attending Oxford University, Emperor Naruhito attended royal events in Britain, such as tea and garden parties, and stayed at Balmoral.
On Sunday, before to the burial of the Queen, the Prime Minister will meet with Vice President Biden in 10 Downing Street.
In order to avoid delays at Heathrow, Air Force One, the presidential jet of the United States, often lands at Stansted Airport while visiting Britain.
However, during Mr. Biden’s visit the previous year, RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk was utilised.
The limousine used to carry United States presidents is referred to as “The Beast.”
The custom-built Cadillac reportedly has eight-inch thick doors, run-flat tyres, bulletproof glass, its own oxygen supply, a few pints of the president’s blood, and a totally sealed interior to protect against a chemical attack.
The anticipated weight range is seven to nine tonnes.