Joe Biden to meet Queen in first diplomatic engagement since UK lockdown began

JOE BIDEN will meet the Queen and other members of the Royal Family ahead of the G7 summit to be held in the UK in June this year.

The reception of “soft power” will be the Queen’s first major diplomatic engagement since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic last year.

According to The Sunday TimesShe will appear alongside the Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall and Duke and Duchess of Cornwall in a carefully choreographed occasion to cement the ‘special relationship’ between the US and UK.

Queen Elizabeth, 94, has met all US Presidents – except Lyndon B. Johnson – since the start of her reign in 1952, and so the event will mark the continuation of a long diplomatic tradition between the two. country.

The monarch is said to be anxious to “resume her activities” after a year of reduced commitments and isolation at Windsor Castle, as well as her bustling and highly symbolic London residence, Buckingham Palace.

President Biden’s visit will coincide with a military parade on June 12 to celebrate Queens’ 95th birthday. This will be the first official reunion of the royal family since “Megxit”.

Prince William and Prince Harry will attend the event, both conspicuously absent from the same occasion two years earlier – in a move widely seen as a snub to visiting President Donald Trump.

Another point of contrast that may irritate Mr Trump, House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsey Hoyle has written to Joe Biden inviting him to address MPs at Westminster Hall. The same move was considered for President Trump in 2019, but was later vetoed by House Speaker John Bercow, a vocal critic of the former president.

Prince Charles has previously written to President Biden congratulating him on his victory and would be delighted with the new Commander-in-Chief’s green agenda and the overthrow of many of Trump’s policies.

The Queen also congratulated Biden on becoming the 46th President of the United States.

Commenting on the event, a high-level royal source said: “The Office of Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs wishes to have a very strong royal presence ahead of the G7 events, and all senior members of the royal family will be part of the event. of what will happen. “

Mr Trump was seen to be ignoring royal protocol when he went for a punch, rather than shaking hands with the Queen when he visited in 2019. Ironically, due to coronavirus security measures, this has become a new standard in international diplomacy and President Biden may must follow suit.