LONDON — Britain is facing a diplomatic backlash over VIP travel arrangements for Queen Elizabeth’s funeral, with many world leaders now seeking special permission to bypass the proposed park and ride scheme and arrive in their official vehicles. Countries of varying sizes are objecting to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s (FCDO) demand that most foreign heads of state attending the funeral on Monday park their vehicles at a site in west London and travel to the event at Westminster Abbey in public . coaches provided by the UK government. Diplomats from five countries, including some from the G7 group of more industrialized nations, told POLITICO they want exemptions for their leaders, citing old age or security reasons. They have been encouraged by comments from the prime minister’s official spokesman on Monday, who told reporters that in some cases the “no car” order would in fact only be “guidance” and that “arrangements for leaders, including how which they travel will vary according to individual circumstances.’ The travel protocol, sent to embassies overseas over the weekend and obtained by POLITICO, will not apply to leaders such as US President Joe Biden, a UK government source later confirmed to The Times. Biden is expected to arrive at the funeral in his armored limousine, often referred to as “The Beast.” Other leaders with specific security requirements, such as President Isaac Herzog of Israel, could also be allowed to bring their own transport, the same British source said. But London-based foreign diplomats were unimpressed with the two-tier system and are now calling for their heads of state to be given the same treatment as Biden and avoid what — to some — is perceived indignity when they arrive on a bus with inferior nations. “I’m trying to get ours off the bus,” admitted a UK-based ambassador, “but not having much luck so far.” Diplomats say the FCDO has not explained the criteria under which some leaders will be allowed to skip the joint bus journey from London’s West End. Envoys approach the department directly to request exemptions, but few, if any, have received an official response. “Our president is happy to take the bus if told, but he’s over 80, so if there’s a way around it, we’ll try,” another senior diplomat said. There is also “significant anxiety” among the leaders over the possible identity of their fellow passengers on the shared VIP coaches, a third diplomat warned. The FCDO held a briefing on Tuesday with representatives from all the countries planning to send captains to the funeral, but was unable to explain how plans for coaching positions would be decided. Another ambassador said the FCDO update was welcome but had raised “more questions than answers”, adding: “The FCDO told us not to have high expectations, not to be too ambitious and to expect different problems. The logistical challenge is huge… They are trying to convince us to take the buses, saying it is much easier to manage everything.” Some foreign diplomats are at least familiar with the shared-coach deals from previous UK-hosted mass events, including the COP26 UN climate summit in Glasgow last year and the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations at St Paul’s Cathedral . But a third ambassador, representing a European country whose leader does not mind taking the bus, said some heads of state who are not used to traveling by coach would see the plan as a challenge to their “masculinity” — and that will convince them to accept the FCDO arrangements will not be an easy task. “If you don’t know your head of state well or if he would accept these things, it can be very difficult for ambassadors,” the envoy said. “And it’s very difficult for the FCDO — because where do you draw the line?”
