Biden arrives for Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral: President and First Lady tenderly hold hands as they are among first world leaders to arrive at Westminster Abbey after travelling in six-car motorcade
- President Biden and wife Jill were seen holding hands as they walked through Westminster Abbey
- The President and First Lady had traveled to the church in armored limousine, known as ‘the Beast’
- Other world leaders and foreign dignitaries are traveling to Westminster Abbey in a fleet of buses
- The Queen’s funeral: All the latest Royal Family news and coverage
President Joe Biden and his wife Jill have arrived at Westminster Abbey for Queen Elizabeth’s funeral.
Biden, wearing a black suit and tie, was seen holding Jill’s hand as they walked through the famous church to pay their respects to the monarch.
The President and First Lady traveled in his motorcade, known as the ‘Beast’, alongside five other security vehicles to be among the first world leaders to arrive at Westminster Abbey.
Westminster Abbey began filling up from 8am as the congregation arrived up to three hours early, with Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron being among world leaders who are paying their respects to the late monarch.
Huge crowds of mourners packed the procession route outside and tens of thousands more went to Windsor, where Her Majesty will be buried later today.
President Joe Biden and his wife Jill have arrived at Westminster Abbey for Queen Elizabeth’s funeral
Biden, wearing a black suit and tie, was seen holding Jill’s hand as they walked through the famous church to pay their respects to the monarch
US President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden arrive at Westminster Abbey in London on Monday for the Queen’s funeral
US President Joe Biden accompanied by the First Lady Jill Biden arrive for the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, held at Westminster Abbey, and are seen sitting in their seats
President Joe Biden and his wife Jill have arrived at Westminster Abbey for Queen Elizabeth’s funeral
Joe Biden and Jill shared a tender moment as they held hands as they walked into Westminster Abbey in London
Joe Biden and Jill Biden arrive at The State Funeral of Her Majesty The Queen, in Westminster Abbey on Monday
While other world leaders, including Macron and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, are arriving at Westminster Abbey for the Queen’s funeral in a fleet of buses, Biden was allowed to ride in The Beast.
The president and first lady were among some 2,000 people attending the funeral at Westminster Abbey.
The couple arrived for the funeral, waiting in the back as a procession moved past, before taking their seats among hundreds of others.
They arrived in London late Saturday and paid respects to the queen on Sunday, viewing her coffin at Westminster Hall, signing condolence books at Lancaster House and attending a Buckingham Palace reception for funeral guests hosted by King Charles III.
But the president’s public appearances in London have been limited and controlled, part of the choreography around the elaborate farewell to the only monarch most Britons have ever known.
He spoke only for just a few minutes Sunday about the queen, as he recalled how the woman he said reminded him of his mother kept feeding him crumpets when they had tea together last year at Windsor Castle.
One senior U.S. official said Biden’s lower profile was less about protocol and more about the fact that ‘it’s not our show. It’s the Brits’ show.’ The U.S. has to be sensitive to that, said the official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.
The Dean of Westminster David Hoyle greets US President Joe Biden and Jill Biden ahead of the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, outside the Westminster Abbey
US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden arrive at the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey
The motorcade carrying U.S. President Joe Biden is seen leaving the residence of the U.S Ambassador in Regent’s Park, as it makes its way to the State Funeral for Queen Elizabeth II
Biden is seen inside ‘The Beast’ as the President makes his way to the Queen’s funeral on Monday morning
Members of Biden’s security team are seen driving with the President’s motorcade as they travel to Westminster Abbey
Guests arrive ahead of the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey on Monday morning
A long line of mourners walk into the UK’s most important church, Westminster Abbey, for the Queen’s funeral
President Joe Biden accompanied by First Lady Jill Biden arrive at Buckingham Palace for a State Reception For Heads Of State on Sunday
Today, up to a million people are lining the streets of London to say a final farewell to the Queen, while leaders and royalty from across the world will attend her state funeral.
Road closures are in place across the city ahead of the Queen’s funeral – a 12-mile ring of steel has been imposed in the heart of the capital along with the route the late monarch’s coffin will take to Windsor later today, where she will ultimately be laid to rest.
Despite the widespread closures, huge crowds flocked into central London this morning for the funeral service.
A day packed with funeral events in London and Windsor began early when the doors of 900-year-old Westminster Hall were closed to mourners after hundreds of thousands had filed in front of her coffin since September 14.
Many of them had spent cold nights outdoors to pay their respects around the queen’s flag-draped coffin in a moving outpouring of national grief and respect.
The closing of the hall marked the end of more than four days of the coffin lying in state and the start of the U.K.’s first state funeral since the one held in 1965 for Winston Churchill, the first of 15 prime ministers during Elizabeth’s reign.
For the funeral, Elizabeth’s coffin will be taken from Westminster Hall, across the road to Westminster Abbey, on a royal gun carriage drawn by 142 Royal Navy sailors. The same carriage was used to carry the coffins of late kings Edward VII, George V and George VI, and of Churchill.
The service, in the Gothic medieval abbey where Elizabeth was married in 1947 and crowned in 1953, will be attended by 2,000 people ranging from world leaders to health care workers and volunteers.
It will end with two minutes of silence followed by the national anthem and a piper’s lament, before the queen’s coffin is taken in a procession ringed by units of the armed forces in dress uniforms, with the queen’s children walking behind, to Wellington Arch near Hyde Park.
There, it will be placed in a hearse to be driven to Windsor for another procession along the Long Walk, a three-mile avenue leading to the town’s castle, before a committal service in St. George’s Chapel. She will then be laid to rest with her late husband, Prince Philip, at a private family service.
Biden and other world leaders, as well as top foreign dignitaries, spent yesterday evening at Buckingham Palace to pay their respects to King Charles ahead of the Queen’s funeral today – in what was described by some as the ‘reception of the century’.
Biden’s armoured limousine, known as the Beast, got snarled up en route outside a Pret a Manger coffee shop in central London last night as he made his way to the banquet.
Video shows members of the public waving and taking pictures of the President as Met Police officers stood guard.
A member of the Met Police Special Escort Group was seen racing past the Beast on a motorbike.
Biden and other world leaders, as well as top foreign dignitaries, spent yesterday evening at Buckingham Palace to pay their respects to King Charles ahead of the Queen’s funeral today
His Majesty King Charles III, his wife Camilla, Prince William and his wife Kate greet Joe and Jill Biden during a reception at Buckingham Palace on Sunday night
US President Joe Biden (right) accompanied by First Lady Jill Biden (middle) are welcomed by Master of the Household Sir Tony Johnstone-Burt (left) as they arrive at Buckingham Palace for a State Reception in honour of the late Queen
US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden wave to the crowd from ‘The Beast’ as they leave Westminster Hall after paying their respects to Queen Elizabeth II on Sunday
Biden’s armoured limousine, known as the Beast, got snarled up en route outside a Pret a Manger coffee shop in central London last night as he made his way to the banquet.
Biden paid his respects with Jill at the Queen’s coffin on Sunday and he described the monarch as ‘decent’ and ‘honorable’ and ‘all about service’ as he signed the condolence book, saying his heart went out to the royal family
During one of the largest gatherings of world leaders seen in recent years the newly crowned Monarch and his wife, Queen Consort Camilla, greeted Biden and Jill as well as French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte, for the glittering but sombre event.
Such a reception involving world leaders and British royals has not seen since the death of Queen Elizabeth II’s father George VI in 1952, more than 70 years ago.
President of Ireland Michael D Higgins was seen being dropped off from a coach along with the former King and Queen Consort of Spain, Juan Carlos and Sofia and Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, before the British royal couple met hundreds of dignitaries, including New Zealand’s prime minister Jacinda Ardern and Canadian premier Justin Trudeau.
The Prince and Princess of Wales and other working members of the royal family including the Earl and Countess of Wessex, the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester joined Charles and the Queen Consort in mingling with guests including Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and the Kings and Queens from Holland, Norway and Sweden.
Biden and other world leaders, as well as top foreign dignitaries, spent yesterday evening at Buckingham Palace to pay their respects to King Charles ahead of the Queen’s funeral today
Queen Letizia of Spain joins her husband King Felipe VI as they arrive separately to former King and Queen Consort of Spain, Juan Carlos and Sofia
President Emmanuel Macron (right) and his wife Brigitte (left) arrive for the glittering state reception which will take place in the picture gallery and state apartments and include drinks and canapes
Meanwhile, Biden paid his respects with Jill at the Queen’s coffin on Sunday before recalling how the late monarch reminded him of his own mother.
The President and First Lady were seen standing on a VIP balcony looking down at the Queen’s coffin on Sunday afternoon which was under constant guard and draped in flags.
Biden touched his hand to his heart and appeared to snap off a quick salute to the late monarch in a gesture of respect, before continuing on through the hall.
He later travelled to Lancaster House where he signed the book of condolence, and told reporters that he would remember how the Queen treated everyone with ‘dignity’ and her 70 years of service.
After paying their respects to the late monarch, Biden joined King Charles and scores of other world leaders and royals for a reception at Buckingham Palace.
Biden touched his hand to his heart and appeared to snap off a quick salute to the late monarch in a gesture of respect, before continuing on through the hall on Sunday afternoon
US President Joe Biden and US First Lady Jill Biden attend the Lying-in-State of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II at the Palace of Westminster in London on Sunday afternoon
The president said the Queen treated people with ‘dignity’, adding: ‘I talk about my mother and father, [they] thought that everyone, no matter who they were, no matter what their station, no matter where they’re from, deserved to be treated with dignity.
‘And that’s exactly what she [Her Majesty] communicated, just the way she walked by her staff, just the way she acted. And I think what she gave is a sense of, maybe above all, the notion of service.
‘We all owe something, there’s something in our capacity to do, that can make things, not just the world, but your neighbourhood better, your household better, your workplace better.
‘And that’s what she communicated to me anyway and it was an honour to meet her.’
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