On Saturday, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden will represent the United States at the historic coronation of King Charles III at Westminster Abbey in London. Dr. Biden will be attending a reception hosted by U.S. Ambassador Jane Hartley and accompanied by her granddaughter Finnegan.
The relationship between President Joe Biden and Queen Elizabeth II has been warm since he took office, with their meetings often taking place at global climate events or during the queen's funeral last year. In 2021, when visiting England for a Group of Seven world leader summit, both President and Dr. Jill Biden were invited to have tea with Her Majesty at Windsor Castle.
As part of an ongoing effort to strengthen ties between American and British governments, Dr. Jill Biden's attendance demonstrates mutual respect between the two countries.
In light of today's historic event, several arrests have been made around Trafalgar Square due to anti-monarchy protests that escalated into criminal activity.
Despite these tensions surrounding the coronation ceremony, it is expected that this event shall continue as scheduled without any major disruptions.
Dr. Jill Biden arrived along with her granddaughter Finnegan ahead of King Charles III’s coronation wearing headband fascinators in a nod to Britain’s tradition for such occasions; however, President Joe Biden did not attend despite questions raised about his absence from this significant moment in history.
It is worth noting that no American president has ever attended a British monarch’s coronation – even during Queen Elizabeth II’s ceremony in 1953 when then-President Eisenhower sent a delegation instead.
As Dr. Jill Biden represents the United States at King Charles III's coronation, it is clear that both governments are committed to strengthening their alliance and working together towards common goals in the future.