Topics: UK News, News, The Queen, Royal Family
Leaders from across the world had to take a bus while the President of the United States took The Beast to the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.
Thousands of people across the globe flocked to London today (19 September) to pay their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away at the age of 96 nearly two weeks ago (8 September).
Some of which include heads of state, appointed leaders and other fellow monarchs from around the world.
While many world leaders had to take a bus for the monumental occasion, President Joe Biden was an exception as he opted for his huge limousine - named The Beast - instead.
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As world leaders were taken to to Westminster Abbey via shared buses amid fears of gridlock on the roads around Westminster - Biden travelled to the historical location in his armoured limousine vehicle amidst a huge motorcade and personal security.
It is also believed other leaders, including the likes of President Macron of France, Emperor Naruhito of Japan and President Herzog of Israel had their own transport, as reported by The Telegraph.
A photo was uploaded this morning (19 September), showing the President of Kenya, William Ruto, and Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu on the bus among others commuting to the funeral.
The tweet was captioned: "President Ruto happy in a bus headed to Buckingham Palace to attend state reception in honor of Queen Elizabeth II."
The tweet has since received over four-thousand likes, over five-hundred retweets and dozens of comments from people reacting to the news.
One person responded saying: "As long as they are safe, there is absolutely no problem," while a second argued that the discrepancy in the travel vehicles between President Biden and Kenyan President Ruto 'symbolise segregation'.
However, according to reports cited by Bright Kenya News, world leaders were instructed to surrender their diplomatic cars and share a bus to the venue.
“Global leaders are being ordered to give up their diplomatic cars and, instead, share transport with their fellow Presidents and Prime Ministers as part of plans organized by Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to enable safe travel to the funeral," the source stated.
This news follows the revelation that Biden and his wife, Jill, were sat 14 rows back in an aisle seat at the Queen's funeral earlier this morning.
As outlined by The Telegraph, the POTUS was placed 14 rows at the back of a section allocated to global heads of state.
He was placed behind Polish President Andrzej Duda and in front of Czech Republic Prime Minister Petr Fiala.
The first lady, however, sat beside Switzerland President Ignazio Cassis for the hour-long service, the news outlet reports, which started today at 11 am.
The Queen's coffin has since left Westminster Abbey and the procession for Wellington Arch has begun.
The final procession to St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, via the Long Walk will commence later this afternoon.
The Queen will be buried in the King George VI Memorial Chapel where she will be joining King George VI and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother alongside her sister Princess Margaret. Prince Philip's coffin will be moved to the chapel later today.
A televised Committal Service will be available for viewers to watch at home on BBC One.
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