President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden paid their respects to Queen Elizabeth II on Sunday, visiting her coffin in London’s Westminster Hall, where she is currently laying in state.
Tens of thousands of people have cycled through to say their final goodbyes while the queen’s coffin is on display in Westminster Hall, although Biden did not have to wait in the up-to 24 hour lines that many Brits have been enduring.
Biden, 79, made the sign of the cross when he arrived and placed his hand on his heart while paying his respects.
The president was filmed on a balcony overlooking the late monarch’s coffin, joined by the first lady, as visitors continued to enter the hall below.
The president and first lady arrived Saturday to London, where they will stay until Monday for the queen’s funeral at Westminster Abbey.
The Bidens also signed the official condolence book for the queen in Lancaster House Sunday.
“I’ve had an opportunity to meet with an awful lot of consequential people, but I can say the ones who stand out in your mind are those whose relationship and interaction with you are consistent with their reputation,” Biden said of the Queen after writing a note in the book, according to pool reports.
“She was the same in person as her image. Decent, honorable and all about service.
“As I’ve told the King, she’s going to be with him every step of the way. Every minute, every moment. And that’s a reassuring notion,” the president continued. “So to all the people of England, all the people of the United Kingdom, our hearts go out to you. You were fortunate to have had her for 70 years. We all were. The world’s better for her.”
Following the Westminster visit, the Bidens headed Buckingham Palace for a reception of dignitaries hosted by King Charles III.
Around 500 royals and heads of state and government from around the world have been invited to the funeral for Elizabeth, who died Sept. 8 at 96 after reigning for 70 years.
Prince William and his wife Princess Kate will be at that reception, but Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will not be in attendance, after they were apparently uninvited — something they only found out in press reports. King Charles III has said only working royals are invited to the event.
Biden, French president Emmanuel Macron and the Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau are among the heads of states who are expected to attend the reception, hosted by Charles and Queen Consort Camilla ahead of the Queen’s funeral on Monday.
Guests will also be greeted by the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Princess Royal and the Earl and Countess of Wessex at the Buckingham Palace reception.
Biden later said the queen reminded him of his mom, Catherine Finnegan, who died in 2010 at 92.
“Just because of the way she touched when she leaned over. The way she had that look, like, ‘are you okay? Anything I can do for you? What do you need?’ and then also: ‘Make sure you do what you are supposed to do,’” he explained.
Many other foreign dignitaries visited the queen at Westminster Sunday, some of whom went unnoticed, according to the BBC, but the crowd outside the hall cheered when Biden’s car arrived.
Other world leaders who paid their respects Sunday include: Queen Letizia of Spain; the First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, who was seen crying; Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and his wife, Michelle; President of Ireland Michael D Higgins; and President of India Droupadi Murmu.
