President Joe Biden and King Charles III Meet at Windsor Castle

President Joe Biden was unable to attend King Charles III’s coronation — however he just lately flew throughout the pond to take a seat down with the monarch for the primary time.

Charles, 74, met with Biden, 80, on Monday, July 10, at Windsor Fortress in the UK. The 2 males inspected an honor guard made up of the Prince of Wales Firm of the Welsh Guards. A band honored Charles with a efficiency of “God Save the King” earlier than enjoying “The Star-Spangled Banner” as a tribute to Biden.

After the formal arrivals, Biden and Charles participated in a roundtable dialogue on local weather change with John Kerry, the U.S. particular presidential envoy for local weather, and officers from the monetary trade and the philanthropic sector.

“The president has large respect for the king’s dedication on the local weather problem specifically,” White Home nationwide safety adviser Jake Sullivan informed reporters on Sunday, July 9. “He has been a clarion voice on this problem.”

Biden’s cease within the U.Ok. is certainly one of many on his calendar. The worldwide journey additionally contains visits to Vilnius, Lithuania, for the NATO Summit and Helsinki, Finland, for a summit with the Nordic leaders.

Buckingham Palace introduced on July 2 that Biden can be assembly with Charles. On the time, the White Home elaborated on the rationale for the go to.

“President Biden will first journey to London, United Kingdom for engagements with King Charles III and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to additional strengthen the shut relationship between our nations,” the assertion learn.

Whereas Biden had met Sunak, 43, final month in Washington, D.C., that is the primary time he’s come head to head with Charles since he was topped. Each leaders are the oldest to step as much as their respective management roles.

Earlier than his sit-down with Charles, Biden was invited to Windsor Fortress by Queen Elizabeth II in June 2021, six months after he was inaugurated. On the time, Biden was the thirteenth and closing American president to fulfill the queen throughout her historic reign. (Elizabeth died at age 96 in September 2022.)

Biden visited the U.Ok. to attend the funeral of Charles’ mom in September 2022. Whereas Charles instantly assumed the throne following the loss of life of the late queen, he wasn’t formally topped till Might. Biden was invited to the coronation, however first girl Dr. Jill Biden attended the historic occasion in his place to symbolize the US. Her granddaughter Finnegan Biden, 23, got here alongside as her plus-one for the event.

“President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke at present with King Charles III, underscoring the energy of the connection between our international locations and the friendship between our peoples,” learn a press release from the White Home in April forward of Charles’ coronation. “The President congratulated the King on his upcoming Coronation and knowledgeable him that First Woman Jill Biden seems to be ahead to attending on behalf of the US. The President additionally conveyed his want to fulfill with the King in the UK at a future date.”