Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral on Monday 19 September attracted distinguished friends from around the globe, together with presidents, comparable to Joe Biden from the United States (US).
The world leaders joined members of the British Royal Family to pay their final respects to the late British monarch at Westminster Abbey in London earlier in the present day.
But one element of the procession didn’t sit effectively with Twitter customers. Why was Biden exempt from travelling in a bus like fellow funeral-goers?
WHY DID BIDEN GET ‘SPECIAL’ TREATMENT?
While a whole lot of presidents, prime ministers and official delegates from around the globe made their method to the church by way of a fleet of coach buses, one chief was visibly exempt.
US chief Biden and his spouse, Jill, travelled to Queen Elizabeth’s funeral service by way of an armoured presidential limousine nicknamed “The Beast”.
According to the UK’s Express, the White House demanded that Biden journey by way of a six-car motorcade for “security reasons”. Their request was granted by UK officers and the automobile was flown to the UK.
The remainder of the friends have been transported in buses to “ease traffic congestion”, claims the publication.
According to 9News, “The Beast” — manufactured by General Motors — is bullet-proof and is can resist gasoline assaults. The automobile can be outfitted with packs of President Biden’s blood kind in case of a medical emergency.
But it wasn’t simply Biden who was excluded from the VIP bus brigade. Others included the royal households from European international locations.
Also on the listing have been leaders of G7 international locations, like France’s Emmanuel Macron, Japanese Emperor Naruhito, and Canada’s Justin Trudeau amongst others. This, additionally for “security reasons”.
TWEEPS ARE NOT IMPRESSED
But regardless of the reasoning behind Biden and different safety-compromised leaders, tweeps questioned why some presidents weren’t provided the identical remedy.
Others shared pics of a bunch of African leaders seated collectively in a bus, suggesting the “segregation” was racially motivated.
Here’s what tweeps needed to say:
@athousandbrains: “As if colonialism wasn’t enough, African leaders are packed in a bus to the burial of the chief colonizer. Whereas the US president is given first-class treat befitting a head of state”.
@ShehuSani: “President Biden can attend the Queen’s funeral in the Beast and other World leaders will be herded in a bus. What I know is that if President Mugabe was alive, he will never agree to attend the event”.
@Wedjongkwowe2: “African presidents attending the Queen’s burial in a bus like high school students”.
@fj_nemo1: “They really put our African leaders in a grey house (sic) bus to go to see the Queen’s rotting corpse. Hopped on a private jet a president and hopped off an immigrate.
@BrianGeorgeKE: “African presidents ride in a bus, clearly quite an unfamiliar way of life for them”.
According to Twitter account African Fact Zone, former Kenyan Governor, Mike Sonko additionally took offence to the narrative being shared on social media. He reportedly responded saying, “These foreigners lack manners. How can they keep African Presidents on one bus in London? God forbid something bad happens on that bus. What will happen?”