Japan's Emperor Naruhito 'will have to get a BUS to Queen's funeral'

No10 admits ‘arrangements will vary’ for world leaders following claims Japanese Emperor WILL have to get a BUS to Queen’s funeral during his first official trip abroad – while Joe Biden will be allowed to travel in his armoured ‘Beast’

• No10 admits ‘arrangements will vary’ for leaders travelling to Queen’s funeral
• Emperor Naruhito confirmed to be among the guests at Monday’s service
• It’s claimed he and other royals will have to travel to the funeral on a shuttle bus
• The Queen’s funeral: All the latest Royal Family news and coverage

Downing Street today admitted that ‘arrangements will vary’ for world leaders amid claims Japan’s Emperor Naruhito will be among those forced to take a bus to the Queen’s funeral.

Emperor Naruhito and his wife, Empress Masako, have been confirmed to be among the guests flying into London for Her Majesty’s state funeral on Monday.

They are set to be joined by other global heads of state such as US President Joe Biden, France’s Emmanuel Macron, Canada’s Justin Trudeau and Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro.

Leaked Government documents have revealed plans for world leaders to travel en masse in a bus to Westminster Abbey for Monday’s service, rather that using private cars. 

British and US officials have since played down the prospect of Mr Biden having to travel on a bus into central London.

They suggested the US President would still be able to use his armoured vehicle dubbed ‘The Beast’ while travelling in the capital.

But it has now emerged that Emperor Naruhito will be among those travelling to the funeral on a bus.

Emperor Naruhito and his wife, Empress Masako, have been confirmed to be among the guests flying into London for Her Majesty’s state funeral on Monday

Other global heads of state attending the Queen’s funeral include US President Joe Biden, France’s Emmanuel Macron, Canada’s Justin Trudeau and Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro

British and US officials have played down the prospect of Mr Biden having to travel on a bus into central London

It has been suggested the US President will still be able to use his armoured vehicle – dubbed ‘The Beast’ – while travelling in the capital, despite strict Foreign Office guidance

According to Politico, the 62-year-old and other visiting royals will be among those bussed en masse to the service under strict Foreign Office guidance.

The website reported that Belgium’s King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, Spain’s King Felipe and Queen Letizia, Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia and the Netherlands’ King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima would also be put on a shuttle bus.

It added that some embassies had made as-yet unsuccessful efforts to request exceptions to the Foreign Office guidance.

Asked about the claim that Emperor Naruhito would be among those on a bus on Monday, a Number 10 spokeswoman said: ‘I wouldn’t be getting into specific arrangements.

‘Some arrangements will differ depending on the needs of the different leaders, so I’m not going to speculate.’

She added: ‘Arrangements will vary depending on the needs and discussions with the leaders and their teams.’

A Foreign Office source did not comment on the possibility of Emperor Naruhito being bussed to Monday’s funeral and would only state: ‘There’s a transport plan in place.’

Emperor Naruhito’s trip to London is set to be his first overseas trip since acceding to the throne in May 2019.

Traditionally, a Japanese emperor stays away from funerals whether at home or abroad because of a cultural belief based in the Shinto religion that considers death impure.

But Japanese officials have stressed the close relations between the British and Japanese royal families.

Emperor Naruhito studied at Oxford University in the 1980s, during which time attended royal events in Britain including tea and garden parties and also stayed at Balmoral.

Prime Minister Liz Truss is due to meet with Mr Biden in Downing Street on Sunday ahead of the Queen’s funeral.

The US presidential plane, known as Air Force One, tends to land at Stansted Airport on visits to Britain in order to avoid disruption at Heathrow.

However, for Mr Biden’s visit last year, it used RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk.

‘The Beast’ is the name given to the armoured limosuine that transports US presidents.

The custom-built Cadillac is said to have eight-inch thick doors, run-flat tires, bulletproof glass, its own oxygen supply, a couple of pints of the president’s blood and a completely sealed interior to ward off a chemical attack.

It is estimated to weigh between seven and nine tons.

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