Biden, World Leaders Gather in London For Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden (right) view the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, lying in state on the catafalque in Westminster Hall in London, Sept. 18, 2022.
London —
U.S. President Joe Biden described Queen Elizabeth II as “decent, honorable and all about service” as he and first lady Jill Biden signed a condolence book Sunday, ahead of her Monday funeral at London’s Westminster Abbey.
“To all the people of England, all the people of the United Kingdom – our hearts go out to you,” the president said after he spent three minutes writing a message in a condolence book at Lancaster House, a royal property near Buckingham Palace in London. “And you were fortunate to have had her for over 70 years. We all were. The world's better for her.”
He added that the queen reminded him of his late mother, and that, when they met, “she kept offering me more, I kept eating everything she put in front of me.”
Biden, who arrived late Saturday, is among hundreds of world leaders who are gathering in Britain to attend the queen’s funeral Monday.
On Sunday, as people milled around central London, world leaders made their way to Lancaster House to deliver condolences over the queen’s death on Sept. 8 at the age of 96.
People queue to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth, following her death, in London, Sept.18, 2022.
"This is a time of grief, but also a time of deep gratitude,” said Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who leads one of the 56 countries in the Commonwealth of Nations, an organization of many former British colonies now led by Elizabeth’s eldest son, King Charles III. “Australians give thanks for the life of service of Queen Elizabeth II, a life defined by commitment to family, to country, to [the] Commonwealth."
In Photos: World Leaders Join Public to Pay Respects to Queen
1/18A ray of sun shines on the coffin as members of the public file past the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard with the Imperial State Crown and the Sovereign's orb and sceptre, lying in state on the catafalque in Westminster Hall in London, Sept. 18, 2022.
2/18U.S. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden (right) view the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, lying in state on the catafalque in Westminster Hall in London, Sept. 18, 2022.
3/18King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain look at the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Hall in London, Sept. 18, 2022.
4/18President of Ireland Michael D Higgins, right, pays his respects to Queen Elizabeth II, as her coffin lie in state on the catafalque in Westminster hall in London, Sept. 18, 2022.
5/18Chad's Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Djerassem Le Bemadjiel, left, arrives to pay his respects to Queen Elizabeth II inside Westminster Hall in London, Sept. 18, 2022.
6/18A member of the public looks at the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, lying in state in Westminster Hall in London, Sept. 18, 2022.
7/18Members of the public pay their respects as they pass the coffin of Queen Elizabeth inside Westminster Hall, Sept. 18, 2022.
8/18Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Trudeau pay respects to Queen Elizabeth as she lies in state in Westminster Hall in London, Sept. 17, 2022.
9/18President of Bulgaria Rumen Radev and his wife Desislava Radeva pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth II's flag-draped coffin lying in state on the catafalque at Westminster Hall, Sept. 18, 2022 in London.
10/18People queue to pay their respects to Britain's Queen Elizabeth in London, Sept. 18, 2022.
11/18People queue to pay their respects to Britain's Queen Elizabeth in London, Sept.18, 2022.
12/18Prime Minister of Lebanon Najib Mikati signs a book of condolence as his wife May Mikati stands next to him at Lancaster House, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, in London, Sept. 18, 2022.
13/18A member of the public wipes away a tear as she passes the Queen Elizabeth II's flag-draped coffin lying in state on the catafalque at Westminster Hall, Sept. 18, 2022, in London.
14/18President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil, center, and his wife Michelle pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth II inside Westminster Hall in London, Sept. 18, 2022.
15/18Members of the public pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth II's flag-draped coffin lying in state on the catafalque at Westminster Hall, Sept. 18, 2022 in London.
16/18Members of the public pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth II during the lying in State inside Westminster Hall in London, Sept. 18, 2022.
17/18People make their way along the Long Walk towards Cambridge Gate outside Windsor Castle to lay flowers for the late Queen Elizabeth II in Windsor, Sept. 18, 2022.
18/18A woman walks by a police security check on arriving at The Long Walk, following the death of Britain's Queen Elizabeth, in Windsor, Britain, Sept. 18, 2022.
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Biden and his wife are also expected to pay their respects to Elizabeth Sunday in Westminster Hall, where her body has been lying in state since Wednesday. Members of Europe’s royal families are also expected to attend the services. The king will also host a formal state reception for dignitaries Sunday.
The British crown has extended a controversial funeral invitation to Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is widely believed to be responsible for ordering the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018. But they did not invite the leaders of Russia, Belarus, Syria, Afghanistan and Venezuela.
On Sunday, as the skies over London remained clear, thousands of people milled around Westminster, the center of the city. London police cheerfully marshalled the heaving crowds of families, veterans carrying bouquets and children holding lollipops, as the Queen’s image beamed at them from shop windows.
