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People are losing it at how world leaders are being ‘treated’ at the Queen’s state funeral

Published 11:39 19 Sept 2022 BST

April Curtin
People are losing it at how world leaders are being ‘treated’ at the Queen’s state funeral

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'They had the world leaders on the coach like a school trip to Blackpool'

People watching the Queen's funeral can't believe world leaders are "being treated the way they treat us". Live footage of the late monarch's service at Westminster Abbey showed leaders from across the globe rocking up on school-trip style coaches. [caption id="attachment_359466" align="alignnone" width="2048"]LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 19: Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Trudeau arrive for the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey on September 19, 2022 in London, England. Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor was born in Bruton Street, Mayfair, London on 21 April 1926. She married Prince Philip in 1947 and ascended the throne of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth on 6 February 1952 after the death of her Father, King George VI. Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8, 2022, and is succeeded by her eldest son, King Charles III. (Photo by Geoff Pugh - WPA Pool/Getty Images) Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Trudeau arrive for Queen's funeral (Image: Getty)[/caption] Canadian Prime Minister [PM] Justin Trudeau, Australian PM Anthony Albanese and New Zealand's PM Jacinda Ardern were amongst leaders who travelled to the Queen's funeral by bus on Monday morning. Trudeau said that “a lot of great conversations happen on the bus”, while Ardern said she didn't think the bus travel warranted “too much fuss”. [caption id="attachment_359455" align="alignnone" width="2048"]LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 19: U.S. President Joe Biden arrives for the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey on September 19, 2022 in London, England. Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor was born in Bruton Street, Mayfair, London on 21 April 1926. She married Prince Philip in 1947 and ascended the throne of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth on 6 February 1952 after the death of her Father, King George VI. Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8, 2022, and is succeeded by her eldest son, King Charles III. (Photo by Hannah McKay - WPA Pool/Getty Images) US President Joe Biden arrives for the Queen's funeral (Image: Getty)[/caption] US President Joe Biden was allowed to skip the coach trip - instead travelling separately in the famous presidential car, 'The Beast'. UK PM Liz Truss also arrived in a separate convoy. https://twitter.com/_Chxrie_/status/1571799258696937473
French President Emmanual Macron is also understood to have been granted exemptions for “security reasons”. It is unclear how Japanese Emperor Naruhito turned up to the funeral, but his attendance is significant, marking his first trip abroad since becoming emperor in 2019. Chief cabinet secretary, Hirokazu Matsuno, said the Queen and Emperor shared a “royal friendship”. [caption id="attachment_359463" align="alignnone" width="1367"]LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 19: Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako leaving Claridge's Hotel ahead of the State Funeral Of Queen Elizabeth II at on September 19, 2022 in London, England. Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor was born in Bruton Street, Mayfair, London on 21 April 1926. She married Prince Philip in 1947 and ascended the throne of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth on 6 February 1952 after the death of her Father, King George VI. Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8, 2022, and is succeeded by her eldest son, King Charles III. (Photo by Ricky Vigil/GC Images) Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako leaving Claridge's Hotel ahead of the Queen's funeral (Image: Getty)[/caption]
Global leaders were ordered to give up their diplomatic cars and share transport as part of plans organised by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to enable safe travel to the funeral, The Telegraph reports.

Dignitaries are being asked to be as flexible as possible, the source told The Times.

https://twitter.com/DingosUniverse/status/1571805134442602497 Viewers watching footage of the funeral at home rushed to Twitter to comment on the leaders and their method of travel. “Our leaders went to the UK and are being treated the way they treat us,” one wrote, gaining over 13,500 likes. https://twitter.com/e_lumumba/status/1571718468172677120 Queen Elizabeth II's funeral commenced at 11am. Once the service has ended, the late monarch's coffin will be taken to Windsor for a private ceremony, where her body will be buried. Related links:

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People are losing it at how world leaders are being 'treated' at the Queen's state funeral