The leaders of Russia, Belarus and Myanmar have not been invited to Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral in London on Monday, while Iran will only be represented at ambassadorial level, according to Whitehall sources quoted by the BBC. About 500 dignitaries from around the world are expected to attend the funeral of Britain’s longest-reigning monarch.

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The funeral will take place at Westminster Abbey, which can hold around 2,000 people, on September 19 at 11am local time. The Queen’s coffin will remain in Westminster Hall until Monday, when it will be taken in a procession from the Palace of Westminster to Westminster Abbey for the funeral service.

Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to gather on the streets of the capital during the funeral.

A Whitehall source said it was the biggest international event in decades, equivalent to organizing hundreds of state visits in just a few days. So it’s a huge logistical, diplomatic and security challenge, and rehearsals are held at night.

Invitations to the Queen’s funeral were sent at the end of last week to the heads of state with which Great Britain maintains diplomatic relations. In most countries, the invitation concerns the head of state and one of his guests. However, the leaders of Russia, Belarus and Myanmar were not invited.

So far, many monarchs and presidents have confirmed their presence, one of the first being Joe Biden. Klaus Iohannis will also attend the Queen’s funeral, the Presidential Administration announced on Tuesday.

Heads of state, without private planes for funerals. They will go by bus

Heads of state attending Queen Elizabeth’s funeral have been told they will not be able to use their official cars to travel to Westminster Abbey. Thus, the trip will be made by bus from a point in west London, wrote Politico.

Westminster Abbey will be so crowded that more than two people (the dignitary and his wife) from each country will not be able to attend.

The heads of state and their partners will travel to Westminster Abbey on the day of the funeral in escorted buses from a location in west London, where they will have to leave their own cars for security reasons and due to restrictions.

As for arrivals in England, leaders are being advised to use commercial flights, warning that Heathrow Airport will not be available for private flights.

Executives who insist on private jet travel will have to travel to other airports in the region. Helicopter transfers between different destinations or between the airport and other locations are prohibited due to the high number of flights during this period.

It seems that the US president has permission to take the armored presidential vehicle, known as the “Beast”, while other leaders will have to take a bus, writes the BBC.

Downing Street on Monday declined to comment on reports that world leaders visiting London for the Queen’s state funeral have been asked to travel on commercial flights.