Global Courant 2023-05-05 10:05:08
First Lady Jill Biden will attend King Charles III’s coronation on Saturday and represent the United States at the historic event, despite President Joe Biden’s absence.
“Heading to the UK for the coronation of King Charles III – the first in 70 years!” wrote the first lady in an Instagram post on Thursday. “It is an honor to represent the United States at this historic moment and celebrate the special relationship between our nations.”
More than 2,000 guests, including many heads of state, will gather at Westminster Abbey for the coronation, scheduled for Saturday, May 6, starting at 11 a.m. London, which is 6 a.m. Eastern time.
The First Lady posted on Instagram her arrival in the UK for the coronation of King Charles II. (First Lady Dr. Jill Biden via Instagram)
The White House commented on President Biden’s absence, noting that no US president has attended one of the seven coronations of a British monarch since the country declared independence in 1776.
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In June 1953, former President Dwight D. Eisenhower did not travel to Queen Elizabeth’s coronation. Instead, he sent a delegation on his behalf, including former Secretary of State George Marshall; General Omar Bradley, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and then-California Governor Earl Warren.
US President Joe Biden, accompanied by First Lady Jill Biden, signs a book of condolences at Lancaster House in London, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on September 18, 2022, in London, England. (Jonathan Hordle-WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Queen Elizabeth II and First Lady Jill Biden at Windsor Castle on June 13, 2021 in Windsor, England. (Mark Cuthbert – Pool/British Press via Getty Images)
At a press conference on Wednesday, May 3, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stumbled as she commented on why the president did not attend the expected event. The press secretary praised the president’s “good relationship” with the king and assured that he intends to meet King Charles in the future.
“The president had a phone conversation of about 25 minutes, 30 minutes with King Charles III congratulating the king – I think we released that last night – on his upcoming coronation, and they had a very friendly conversation,” Jean-Pierre told a reporter who asked why Biden was not present as head of state. “They have a good relationship with the King. He talked about how he enjoyed meeting the Queen, I would say, in 2021 – pay a visit – him and the first lady in Windsor. And he hoped to visit again soon to come.”
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The Bidens were last together in London in September for Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral after her death on September 8 at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.
Buckingham Palace shared the invitation to the coronation, which will have 2,000 guests at Westminster Abbey on May 6. (Royal family)
Last month, the royal family released the official coronation invitation with beautiful details.
The coronation invitation was designed by Andrew Jamieson, hand painted in watercolor with gold foil details and printed on recycled material. Invitation details include UK floral decals, a British wildflower meadow and wildlife, alongside the official coat of arms.
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At the heart of the invitation is the motif of the Green Man, a figure from British folklore, symbolic of spring and rebirth, in celebration of the new reign, the Royal Family’s website announced.
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten is a writer on Fox News Digital’s breaking news team. You can reach her on Twitter at @s_rumpfwhiteten.
