Biden and Jill’s ‘thoughts are solidly and squarely with the Queen’

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The White House said the thoughts of Joe and Jill Biden are with The Queen as senior members of the Royal Family rushed to be at her bedside at Scotland’s Balmoral Castle – where she is under medical supervision amid concerns for her health. 

The president has been briefing on her condition and conveyed his thoughts and prayers to new British Prime Minister Liz Truss. 

‘The President has been briefed and will be updated throughout the day on the concerning news out of the United Kingdom about Queen Elizabeth’s health,’ said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre at the top of her press briefing.

White House spokesman John Kirby said that the president’s ‘and the first lady’s thoughts are solidly and squarely with the queen today and her family.’

Biden, during a call Thursday morning with allies on the situation in the Ukraine, spoke to Truss about The Queen.

‘The President also conveyed to Prime Minister trust during a previously scheduled video conference this morning that he and Dr. Biden are thinking of the Queen, her family and the people of the United Kingdom,’ Jean-Pierre said. 

The president and Queen last spoke in June 2021, when the Bidens were in Britain for a G7 summit. 

Biden has spoken warmly of The Queen and praised her ‘selfless devotion and service’ to the people of the United Kingdom on the occasion of her platinum jubilee.

He’s also said she reminded him of his mother – a high compliment from the president, who adored his mom. 

Biden and The Queen share much in common: a long history of service to their country (Biden’s nearly 50 years in public life, The Queen’s more than 70 on the throne), devotion to their faith (he is Catholic, she is head of the Church of England), and their love for their families. 

The president has had three meetings with the monarch, all of which took place on British soil. 

The Queen has met 13 U.S. presidents, every one since Harry Truman, with the exception of Lyndon Johnson. Her meetings with the American leaders have been a symbol for the ‘special relationship’ that exists between the US and UK. 

President Joe Biden has been briefed on the Queen's condition; above first lady Jill Biden and President Joe Biden joined Queen Elizabeth II for tea at Windsor Palace in June 2021

President Joe Biden has been briefed on the Queen’s condition; above first lady Jill Biden and President Joe Biden joined Queen Elizabeth II for tea at Windsor Palace in June 2021

President Joe Biden conveyed his thoughts and prayers about Queen Elizabeth to new British Prime Minister Liz Truss

President Joe Biden conveyed his thoughts and prayers about Queen Elizabeth to new British Prime Minister Liz Truss

President Joe Biden conveyed his thoughts and prayers about Queen Elizabeth to new British Prime Minister Liz Truss

President Joe Biden with the Queen at Windsor Palace - after their meeting he said she reminded him of his mom

President Joe Biden with the Queen at Windsor Palace - after their meeting he said she reminded him of his mom

President Joe Biden with the Queen at Windsor Palace – after their meeting he said she reminded him of his mom

The Bidens also met the Queen in June 2021 in Cornwall during a reception for the G7

The Bidens also met the Queen in June 2021 in Cornwall during a reception for the G7

The Bidens also met the Queen in June 2021 in Cornwall during a reception for the G7

The main meeting between Biden and The Queen took place in June 2021 when Joe and Jill Biden were in the United Kingdom for a G7 meeting hosted by then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson. 

The Queen hosted the Bidens for a private tea at Windsor Palace at the end of the G7 gathering.

She greeted the Bidens in the Windsor’s outdoor courtyard with a Guard of Honour. The celebration consisted of a reduced parade around the grounds due to the COVID pandemic.

Afterward President Biden compared HM to his late mother, Catherine Eugenia Finnegan Biden, known to the family as Jean.

‘I don’t think she’d be insulted but she reminded me of my mother, the look of her and just the generosity,’ the president told reporters after the visit.

Jean Biden was a devout Catholic mom-of-four who raised the future president in Pennsylvania and helped him overcome his childhood stutter. She died in 2010, aged 92, but is still frequently quoted by the president in his political speeches.  

She reportedly had a ‘formidable’ influence on the president’s life, joining him on the campaign trail as he sought election to the Senate and supporting him after his first wife and daughter died in a car crash.  

Queen Elizabeth also has four children and is known for her faith. 

The president also said that, during their tea, the Queen asked him about world leaders Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. He said she also asked what life in the White House was like.

‘We could fit the White House in the courtyard,’ he said he told her, referring to Windsor Castle.

At the June 2021 meeting, President Biden, who is known for being touchy-feeling, appeared to reach out as if to offer The Queen his arm to escort her off the dais; but he drew back at last minute

At the June 2021 meeting, President Biden, who is known for being touchy-feeling, appeared to reach out as if to offer The Queen his arm to escort her off the dais; but he drew back at last minute

At the June 2021 meeting, President Biden, who is known for being touchy-feeling, appeared to reach out as if to offer The Queen his arm to escort her off the dais; but he drew back at last minute

President Biden stayed close to the Queen as she walked off the dais; it is a breach of protocol to touch The Queen

President Biden stayed close to the Queen as she walked off the dais; it is a breach of protocol to touch The Queen

President Biden stayed close to the Queen as she walked off the dais; it is a breach of protocol to touch The Queen

Jill Biden, The Queen, and President Joe Biden during the Guard Parade at Windsor

Jill Biden, The Queen, and President Joe Biden during the Guard Parade at Windsor

Jill Biden, The Queen, and President Joe Biden during the Guard Parade at Windsor

U.S. President Joe Biden walks next to Britain's Queen Elizabeth, at Windsor Castle in Windsor, as a guard salutes

U.S. President Joe Biden walks next to Britain's Queen Elizabeth, at Windsor Castle in Windsor, as a guard salutes

U.S. President Joe Biden walks next to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, at Windsor Castle in Windsor, as a guard salutes

The Queen poses with G7 leaders during their June 2021 meeting in Cornwall: (from left to right) German Chancellor Angela Merkel, European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, Queen Elizabeth II, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, President of the European Council Charles Michel and United States President Joe Biden

The Queen poses with G7 leaders during their June 2021 meeting in Cornwall: (from left to right) German Chancellor Angela Merkel, European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, Queen Elizabeth II, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, President of the European Council Charles Michel and United States President Joe Biden

The Queen poses with G7 leaders during their June 2021 meeting in Cornwall: (from left to right) German Chancellor Angela Merkel, European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, Queen Elizabeth II, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, President of the European Council Charles Michel and United States President Joe Biden

At their June meeting, the Bidens joined the Queen on the dais in the quadrangle, and a Guard of Honour, consisting of the Queen’s Company First Battalion Grenadier Guards, performed a Royal Salute.  

The Officer Commanding the Guard of Honour, Maj James Taylor, accompanied Biden, along with Maj Gen Christopher Ghika, in an inspection of the Honour Guard. 

The day was so bright the president, at one point, donned his signature aviator sunglasses.

At the meeting, President Biden, who is known for being touchy-feeling, appeared to reach out as if to offer The Queen his arm to escort her off the dais. 

But he seemed to draw back at the last minute. It is a breach of protocol to touch The Queen although the president kept a hand close to her back as they walked off the stage. 

The Bidens also had met the Queen a day earlier when she attended a reception for G7 leaders in Cornwall.

At that event, the first couple spoke to The Queen in a reception line. The gathering looked jovial with both members of the first couple and the monarch smiling broadly at one another. The Queen also poised for a socially distanced photo with the world leaders.

Biden previously met with The Queen in 1982, according to the White House.

The president has spoken of his adminiration for The Queen. In June, in honor of her 70 years on the throne, he praised her ‘selfless devotion and service’ to the people of the United Kingdom.

The first couple posted a video message in honor of her Platinum Jubilee on their social media channels. 

‘Congratulations on your Platinum Jubilee,’ President Biden said in the message. ‘For 70 years you’ve inspired people with your selfless devotion and service to the people the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. Throughout your reign, the relationship between the United Kingdom United States has grown stronger and closer than ever.’

Jill Biden added: ‘Throughout the years, the joy your visits to the United States have brought Americans and your solidarity with the American people in times of tragedy, have deepened the friendship and profound connection between our countries. And Joe and I were so touched by the generosity and welcome you show to us when we visited you at Windsor Castle last year, during our first visit overseas as President and First Lady.’

1662657563 722 Biden and Jills thoughts are solidly and squarely with the

1662657563 722 Biden and Jills thoughts are solidly and squarely with the

The Queen waits in the Drawing Room before receiving Liz Truss for an audience at Balmoral, Scotland on Tuesday. Today she is under the supervision of doctors amid concerns about her health

A statement about the Queen's health is exceptionally rare and raises major concerns

A statement about the Queen's health is exceptionally rare and raises major concerns

A statement about the Queen’s health is exceptionally rare and raises major concerns 

Members of the Royal family have gathered at the Queen’s side in Scotland.

Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Edward, Prince Andrew and Prince William have arrived at Balmoral. Prince Harry, who was in London, is in en route to the Queen’s Scottish residence. Meghan, his wife, stayed in Lond.

Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, also stayed behind and was spotted in Windsor driving to pick up George, Charlotte and Louis after they first full day at their new school.

In an unprecedented statement about the 96-year-old’s health, Buckingham Palace described the Queen as ‘comfortable’ after her doctors examined her this morning, hours after she was advised to rest.

The doctors’ statement about the monarch’s health is exceptionally rare and suggests the situation is very serious. And experts said it is all the more worrying because all her family are either already by her side or en route.

The Queen postponed a Privy Council meeting on Wednesday at the last minute on doctors’ advice. 

She had a busy day on Tuesday, during which she greeted both Boris Johnson and Liz Truss at Balmoral, where Johnson left the prime minister’s office and Truss was asked by HM to form a government.

The Queen was pictured on Tuesday smiling and alert, but still frail, using a stick and sporting extensive bruising on her hands.