Foreign leaders are barred from attending Queen Elizabeth's funeral on private jets.
The late Queen Elizabeth II's funeral has been set for Monday, September 19, 2022.
The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office has issued strict protocols for foreign heads of state and officials attending the funeral.
According to multiple reports in the UK media, attendance at foreign officials' funerals is strictly by invitation only, with numbers limited to a head of state and their spouse or a senior government official in their stead.
"Multiple and comprehensive layers of security will be in place across London and at all official venues used for the state funeral and associated events," according to press quotes from FCDO documents.
As part of the arrangements, the office has also warned foreign leaders to if possible, arrive in the UK onboard commercial flights as London’s Heathrow Airport will be closed to private jets.
As part of the arrangements, heads of state have been asked to gather at a site in West London where they will be bussed to Westminster Abbey for the funeral. The heads of state will be returned to the same location for their departure after the funeral.
The FCDO advised arriving heads of state to fly to less congested airports near London and warned that the use of helicopters to transfer from airports to other venues is prohibited due to expected congestion in the region's airspace.
Foreign heads of state, in addition to being unable to fly to London in their private jets, will be unable to use their official cars for the funeral, according to the directive.
The official capacity of Westminster Abbey, where the Queen's funeral will be held, is 2,200, and it is expected to be overcrowded on the day of the funeral, which has informed the decision to admit a limited number of foreign officials.
The FCDO in its protocol document 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”.
Meanwhile, opposition MP for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has described the directive as "welcoming" and "timely" for many Ghanaians.
The MP has been following and reporting on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-foreign Addo's travels for several months.
Mr Ablakwa has accused the president of living a lavish lifestyle by flying abroad on expensive chartered private jets rather than the state's presidential jet.
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