Queen Elizabeth II dies — follow the latest news as the world mourns
Officials have confirmed US President Joe Biden will attend the queen’s funeral, amid reports that foreign heads of state will be asked to catch a coach to the service.
Leaked documents show dignitaries will travel to Westminster Abbey in escorted coaches and “because of tight security and road restrictions” they will be required to leave their private state vehicles behind.
Only heads of state and their spouses or partners will be invited to the event on September 19, because of limited space in the historic building, it has been reported.
The White House confirmed that Mr Biden will attend the funeral with his wife Jill.
Politico reported that a communication from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office was sent to embassies late on Saturday.
The department said it “regrets that, because of limited space at the state funeral service and associated events, no other members of the principal guest’s family, staff or entourage may be admitted", it was reported.
Heads of state unable to attend may choose someone else as their official representative.
Queen Elizabeth with 11 US presidents — in pictures
-
Queen Elizabeth II welcomes former US president John Kennedy to Buckingham Palace. AP -
The queen did not meet with Kennedy's successor, Lyndon Johnson. AP -
Queen Elizabeth speaking during a banquet in Buckingham Palace alongside Barack Obama, the US president at the time. Getty Images -
Queen Elizabeth with US President Joe Biden at Windsor Castle in England on June 13, 2021. Getty Images -
Queen Elizabeth with the Bidens at Windsor Castle. Getty Images -
Queen Elizabeth with US first lady Jill Biden in the Grand Corridor at Windsor Castle. Getty Images -
The Bidens with the queen at Windsor Castle. Reuters -
Mr Biden and Queen Elizabeth. Reuters -
Ms Biden with the queen at Windsor Castle. Reuters -
Mr Biden and his wife with the queen after attending the G7 Leader's Summit. Getty Images -
Former US president Barack Obama and the queen during a State Banquet in Buckingham Palace on May 24, 2011 in London. Getty Images -
Mr Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama are welcomed by the queen to Buckingham Palace on April 1, 2009. Photo: White House -
Ms Obama greets football star David Beckham at a dinner in honour of the queen at Winfield House in London, on May 25, 2011. Photo: US National Archives -
Mr Obama and Queen Elizabeth greet guests including actor Colin Firth at Winfield House, on May 25, 2011. Photo: US National Archives -
Mr Obama and his wife attend a State Banquet hosted by the queen at Buckingham Palace. Photo: US National Archives -
Mr and Mrs Obama receive the queen and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, prior to a dinner in the queen's honour at Winfield House in London. Photo: US National Archives -
Mr and Ms Obama talk with the queen, Prince Philip, US ambassador Louis Susman and his wife, Margaret. Photo: US National Archives -
The queen and the Obamas at Winfield House, the residence of the US ambassador. Getty Images -
The Obamas walk out to pose with the queen and Prince Phillip before a state dinner at Buckingham Palace. Reuters -
Mr Obama and his wife pose for photographs with the queen and Prince Philip during an audience at Buckingham Palace on April 1, 2009. Getty Images -
Former US president Donald Trump and the queen inspect a Guard of Honour, formed of the Coldstream Guards, at Windsor Castle in July 2018. Getty Images -
Former US first lady Melania Trump, the queen and the Duchess of Cornwall during the Ceremonial Welcome at Buckingham Palace. Photo: US National Archives -
Mr Trump was criticised for walking ahead of the queen. Getty Images -
The queen stands with Mr Trump and his wife Melania Trump as they listen to the US national anthem during a welcome ceremony at Buckingham Palace. AFP -
The queen with Mr Trump as he arrived in Britain for a state visit, which was overshadowed by his outspoken remarks on Brexit. AFP -
Bill Clinton, the US president at the time, talks with the queen with Hillary Rodham Clinton and daughter Chelsea at the Garden Entrance of Buckingham Palace in December 2000. AFP -
The queen, George W Bush, the US president at the time, Laura Bush, and the Duke of Edinburgh pose in the music room at Buckingham Palace in November 2003. Getty Images -
The queen made a state visit to the US White House and was received by then-president George HW Bush and his wife Barbara Bush, along with Prince Philip, in May 1991. Getty Images -
The queen and former US president George W Bush meet well-wishers outside the White House in May 2007. Getty Images -
The queen accompanying Mr Bush, his wife Laura, then-US secretary of state Colin Powell and his wife Alma Powell, and the Duke of Edinburgh as they enter the Queen's Gallery at Buckingham Palace in 2003. AP -
The elder Bush and his wife arrive on May 16, 1991, at a dinner at the British embassy in Washington accompanied by the queen and her husband. AFP -
Queen Margrethe of Denmark, Prince Philip, the queen, former French president Jacques Chirac, Bernadette Chirac, George W Bush, Ms Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin attend the commemoration ceremony for the 60th anniversary of D-Day on June 6, 2004, in Arromanches, France. Getty Images -
Then-US president Jimmy Carter joins the queen and Prince Philip at Buckingham Palace when he and six other world leaders attended a dinner. Getty Images -
The queen raises a glass with then-US president Gerald Ford. Photo: US National Archives -
The queen dances with Ford at the White House in Washington. Photo: US National Archives / Ford Library -
Prince Philip, former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy, the queen and US president at the time John Kennedy appear together at Buckingham Palace after a dinner party in 1961. Getty Images -
Queen Elizabeth out riding with then-US president Ronald Reagan at Windsor Park. PA -
Queen Elizabeth with the West German chancellor at the time Helmut Kohl, Reagan, and the British prime minister at the time Margaret Thatcher at Buckingham Palace. AP -
Reagan and Queen Elizabeth at a gala dinner at Windsor Castle. Getty Images -
Queen Elizabeth with UK prime minister at the time Edward Heath and then-US president Richard Nixon and his wife Pat Nixon at Chequers in Buckinghamshire. PA -
Queen Elizabeth with Nixon. AP -
Queen Elizabeth entertains Nixon during a lunch at Buckingham Palace. Getty Images -
Queen Elizabeth hosting Jimmy Carter, the US president at the time. Photo: US National Archives -
Carter reportedly kissed the queen's mother on the mouth. Photo: US National Archives -
The queen and Carter at a state dinner at Buckingham Palace. PA -
Bill Clinton and Queen Elizabeth smile for the cameras during the group photo session at the Guildhall before a celebratory banquet for the 50th anniversary of D-Day. AFP -
Clinton and his wife Hillary meet Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace. AFP -
Before she became queen, then-Princess Elizabeth joined President Harry Truman in the chief executive's limousine for her ride to Blair House after arriving at Military Air Transport Service Terminal in Washington. Photo: US National Archives -
Queen Elizabeth with US president Harry S Truman. Photo: US National Archive
The document said world leaders were urged to travel on commercial flights and told they could not use helicopters to travel around the UK.
The office urged commercial travel “where possible”, Politico said.
“Multiple and comprehensive layers of security will be in place across London and at all the official venues used for the state funeral and associated events,” the document seen by Politico said.
The document also set out some of the engagements for heads of state surrounding the funeral.
Queen Elizabeth's visits to the Mena region - in pictures
-
Queen Elizabeth II arrives in Abu Dhabi during a state visit to the Gulf on February 25, 1979. Getty -
The UAE's Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and the queen arrive for the inauguration of Le Meridien Abu Dhabi in 1979. Photo: Le Meridien Abu Dhabi -
The queen during her visit to the UAE in 1979. Photo: Ramesh Shukla -
The queen appoints Sheikh Rashid, then Ruler of Dubai, a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George, during her tour of the Gulf states, in Abu Dhabi in February 1979. Getty -
The queen sits with Sheikh Rashid on the Dubai Ruler's new dhow, as they are taken on a sightseeing tour of the emirate on February 26, 1979. AP -
The queen, Sheikh Zayed and Prince Philip sit before lunch at the Hilton Hotel in Abu Dhabi, during the UK royals' tour of the Gulf states in February 1979. Getty -
Yemeni councillor Sayyid Abubakr bin Shaikh Alkaff kneels before Queen Elizabeth to be knighted during her visit to Aden on April 29, 1954. AFP -
The queen with Sheikh Khalifa, who was then the UAE's President, at Mushrif Palace on November 25, 2010 in Abu Dhabi. Getty -
The queen was welcomed by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, during her visit to Abu Dhabi in 2010. Getty -
The queen and Prince Philip with President Sheikh Mohamed, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, at Abu Dhabi airport on November 24, 2010. Getty -
The queen with the emir of Bahrain at a horse and camel race meeting in 1979. Getty -
Queen Elizabeth eats with her hands in the desert with King Hassan during her visit to Morocco on October 27, 1980. Getty -
The queen attends the races during her visit to Saudi Arabia in February 1979. Getty -
King Faisal II of Iraq and the queen leave Victoria Station in London for Buckingham Palace, in July 1956. Getty -
The queen in Kuwait during her tour of the Gulf in 1979. Getty -
The queen drives through Tunis with Tunisian President Habib Bourguiba during a state visit in October 1980. Getty -
The queen walks towards her plane with Sultan Qaboos of Oman, before she and Prince Philip leave Muscat after a five-day state visit to the Gulf region. Getty -
The queen walks in Muscat. Getty -
The queen and Prince Philip during a visit to Qatar in February 1979. Getty -
The queen with the Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlevi of Iran during a banquet in Tehran on March 2, 1961. AP -
Queen Noor of Jordan, Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth and King Hussein of Jordan after the British royals' arrival in the country in 1984. Getty -
The queen alongside former Algerian President Chadli Bendjedid, inspect a guard of honour on her arrival in Algiers for a three-day state visit in October 1980. Getty -
The queen and Prince Philip with King Idris of Libya at the Royal Palace in Tobruk in May 1954. AP
This includes receptions hosted by the king and the new Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, an offer to visit the queen's body when it is lying in state, and a chance to sign a book of condolence at Lancaster House.
It reported that foreign leaders will be invited to deliver a tribute to the queen while at Lancaster House, but it can only last up to three minutes.
And “because of the extensive ceremonial programme related to the state funeral and the logistical challenges, requests for bilaterals will not be considered on this occasion", the leaked document said.
The office has been approached for comment.
