President Biden continued a long American tradition by skipping the coronation of King Charles III — but by choosing Jill Biden as his stand-in, he broke sharply with more than a century of precedent, an expert told The Post.
In the 247 years since America declared its independence from the crown, no US president has attended the coronation of a British monarch.
For decades, that was mainly a question of practicality. Revolution-era enmity against Britain had faded by 1821, when George IV succeeded his father George III. But a long ocean journey was impossible for a commander-in-chief at the time. Not until 1918 did Woodrow Wilson become the first president to venture across the Atlantic during his term.
With the advent of steamships in the early 20th century, “It quickly became a precedent to send an official delegation to coronations,” Chernock explained.
Since George V became king in 1911, US presidents have dispatched carefully chosen delegations of representatives charged with pushing the administration’s agenda during the festivities.
George VI’s coronation in 1937 saw Franklin D. Roosevelt’s emissaries, Gen. John J. Pershing and vocal Hitler opponent James Gerard, lobbying soon-to-be allies to join the looming fight against fascism.
First Lady Jill Biden and her granddaughter Finnegan Biden arriving at Westminster Abbey for the coronation of King Charles III on May 6, 2023. Photo by Andrew Matthews – WPA Pool/Getty Images
President Biden broke precedent by sending his wife in his place instead of a delegation, according to experts. Photo by Andrew Matthews – WPA Pool/Getty Images
The Bidens seated for the coronation ceremony. BBC
In 1937, Franklin D. Roosevelt sent Gen. John J. Pershing to George VI’s coronation to champion the fight against fascism. Getty Images
American socialite/publisher Fleur Cowles and WWII hero Gen. Omar Bradley, her fellow US delegate to the 1953 crowning of Elizabeth III, advocated Dwight Eisenhower’s vision of a booming postwar economy. Bettmann ArchiveFor Elizabeth II’s investiture in 1953, Dwight D. Eisenhower “put a lot of thought and months of planning into his delegation,” Chernock said. The former Allied commander sent military heroes George Marshall and Omar Bradley to cement ties forged in World War II, plus high-society publisher Fleur Cowles to speak for a rising generation of postwar career women.
In contrast, Biden has named no formal delegation at all.
Jill Biden is merely attending the coronation as a guest, the White House has said, with Finnegan Biden — the 22-year-old daughter of embattled son Hunter — in tow. The first lady has announced no agenda.
First lady Jill Biden, who led no delegation to the coronation of Charles III, visited a London school Friday. OLI SCARFF / Avalon
First lady Jill Biden, in London for the coronation of Charles III with granddaughter Finnegan, met Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, at Buckingham Palace Friday. Jacob King/PA Images/INSTARimages“This is not a snub,” said Arianne Chernock, a Boston University history professor who studies America’s relationship with the British monarchy. “But Joe Biden clearly hasn’t made it a high priority, as past presidents have done.”
“Is she simply there to pay her respects and engage in a bit of tourism?” Chernock asked. “We’ll have to see.”
