They will have to optimize their routes.
The heads of state invited to the funeral of Elizabeth II on Monday September 19 will have to favor commercial lines for London and do without helicopters for connections from their arrival airport, says the British Foreign Ministry quoted by the Politico site this Sunday evening.
Scheduled for September 19, the Queen's tribute ceremony is expected to bring together many personalities from around the world, including French President Emmanuel Macron and US President Joe Biden, which poses many logistical problems.
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The list of guests is so long that only a Head of State can come to represent his country there, in the company of his or her spouse, or, as desired, a Prime Minister or another Minister, for lack of more sufficient seats in Westminster Abbey.
Private jets not recommended
And to get to the ceremony scheduled for the morning at 10 a.m., a whole program has been established by the British Foreign Office.
In particular, he asked kings and other heads of state to avoid private jets to London and to favor commercial lines, “if possible”.
The reason ?
Heathrow Airport will not be able to accommodate private jets.
Otherwise, private jets to London will have to target other less busy airports.
The use of helicopters for transfers from airports will also be banned, due to the large number of flights operating in parallel, explains the ministry quoted by Politico, which was able to consult internal documents.
The day before the ceremony, on Sunday evening, the newly proclaimed King Charles III will host a reception at Buckingham Palace to greet all foreign heads of state who have come to England.
They will then be able to gather in front of the remains of the queen, sign a booklet of condolences, and read a tribute speech limited to three minutes and broadcast in the media.
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Journeys will also be supervised on the day of the Queen's funeral.
Instead of using their official vehicles, presidents and other representatives of states around the world will be transported by coach from west London to Westminster Abbey in the city centre, the Politico news site continues.
No exceptions will be tolerated, insists the ministry, due to the cumbersomeness of the ceremony and the logistical challenges it imposes.