Biden sits at the back as realms take priority

The US President arrived in his own bulletproof limousine but had to sit 14 rows back in Westminster Abbey.

President Joe Biden may have been one of the few dignitaries granted permission to take his own transport to Westminster Abbey but once there he had to settle for a seat 14 rows back.

The US leader, whose country threw out the British monarchy nearly 250 years ago, was barely visible amid the 500 kings, queens, emperors and leaders crammed into the south transept of the abbey.

Mr Biden arrived with his wife, Jill, in his bulletproof limousine, the Beast, to be ushered to his seat behind President Andrzej Duda of Poland and in front of Petr Fiala, the Czech prime minister. Across the aisle from him sat President Yoon Suk-yeol of South Korea, while Mrs Biden was placed next to President Ignazio Cassis of Switzerland.

For Justin Trudeau, the Canadian prime minister, the Queen’s funeral was a rare opportunity to be seated in a more privileged position than the leader of his country’s giant neighbour.

US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden arrive at Westminster Abbey for the Queen’s funeral. Picture: Getty Images

It was the realms, the countries that have the British monarch as their head of state, that bagged the best seats, though even then elected leaders such as Mr Trudeau were put behind the Queen’s representatives to their countries, the governors-general.

Mr Trudeau, having failed, like President Emmanuel Macron of France, to join Mr Biden in winning permission to bring his own vehicle, arrived at the funeral aboard one of a fleet of coaches that brought leaders from the Royal Chelsea Hospital. “A lot of great conversations can happen on a bus,” Mr Trudeau told the BBC gamely before setting off.

The newly elected President William Ruto of Kenya released a photograph of himself aboard one of the buses with other leaders, letting it be known that he was not too grand to take the laid-on group transport.

Most of Europe’s royals, many of them known for their down-to-earth ways, also arrived via bus. Queen Margrethe of Denmark, Europe’s longest-serving living monarch and great friend of the Queen, sat at the front of the foreign royals section in the north transept, opposite King Charles. She cancelled some of her own Golden Jubilee celebrations to attend.

US President Joe Biden takes his seats with other heads of state and dignitaries. Picture: Getty Images

King Abdullah of Jordan, accompanied by his wife, Queen Rania, was seated two rows before the Gulf royals, who came unaccompanied by their wives.

Other bus-riding foreign royals in the front pews included the King and Queen of Bhutan. They arrived at the abbey with the Emperor and Empress of Japan, who had flown in on a first-class Japan Airlines flight.

Other royals brought private cars from their home countries to take them elsewhere during their visit; King Philippe of Belgium and King Carl Gustaf of Sweden arrived in Chelsea in Volvos before switching to coaches.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the German president, arrived in a black BMW with the number plate GER 1, while Anthony Albanese, the prime minister of Australia, tactfully chose a Jaguar, the classic British brand. Sergio Mattarella, the president of Italy, was dropped off in a Maserati with the number plate ITA 1.

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and partner Jodie Hayden arrive at Westminster Abbey for the Queen’s funeral. Picture: AFP

Seating arrangements for the funeral, the product of days of labour by Foreign Office officials, were published only as world leaders began to take their seats, after several last-minute switches by attending countries. Hours after the ceremony ended, an official list of guests and full seating plan had still to be released.

Aside from bonhomie on the buses, the largest international gathering in decades is not thought to have provided many opportunities for concrete diplomacy, with guests wary of politicising such a sombre event. Mr Biden went as far as to cancel his scheduled one-on-one with Liz Truss at Downing St over such fears, according to US media outlets. Mr Macron, meanwhile, opted for public diplomacy before the funeral with an “incognito” stroll with aides and security guards along the Thames after visiting the Queen’s lying in state.

After the pomp and emotion of the funeral, most world leaders could return home, go on to the UN general assembly or attend a drinks reception in Westminster hosted by James Cleverly, the new foreign secretary. Only leaders from the realms, along with selected royals, were invited to continue to Windsor for the Queen’s committal.

– The Times