REBECCA ENGLISH: The King didn’t raise an eyebrow at Biden’s enthusiastically tactile welcome
REBECCA ENGLISH: It’s the Charles and Joe chat show… Things were so special that the king didn’t raise an eyebrow at Biden’s enthusiastically tactile welcome
There’s always a lot of talk about the “special relationship” when a US president comes to town.
And yesterday at Windsor Castle things were apparently so special that the king didn’t raise an eyebrow at Joe Biden’s enthusiastically tactile welcome – and the tea was overflowing as the pair loved to chat.
The only cloud in the blue sky above the Berkshire residence was the decision by the US delegation to attend the meeting – with climate action at the top of the to-do list – in a fleet of five helicopters.
The trip had been billed as ‘definitely not a state visit’, but Mr Biden’s friendly hand was clearly and cordially extended towards the king for nearly two hours.
The US president flew to Windsor immediately after his meeting with the prime minister.
REBECCA ENGLISH: There’s always a lot of talk about the “special relationship” when a US president comes to town. And yesterday at Windsor Castle, things were apparently so special that the king didn’t raise an eyebrow at Joe Biden’s (right) enthusiastically tactile welcome – and the tea was overflowing as the pair loved chatting so much
REBECCA ENGLISH: At one point, Mr Biden seemed reluctant to end a conversation with one of the Welsh Guards who lined up at the castle as Charles tried to take him away
He was greeted by the King, who had waited about five minutes, along with the Royal Comptroller, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Vernon, and his adjutant, Lieutenant Colonel Jonny Thompson.
The politician slowly got out of the car and the two men shook hands. As they walked to the dais, Mr. Biden put a hand on the King’s back.
The President did this twice more after inspecting the Guard of Honour, formed by the Prince of Wales’s Company of the Welsh Guards.
He made no contact when he met the late Queen in Windsor two years ago. A palace source suggested that the idea that this was an alleged breach of protocol was “very old fashioned.”
REBECCA ENGLISH: The politician slowly got out of the car and the two men shook hands. As they walked to the dais, Mr. Biden put a hand on the King’s back
At one point, Mr Biden seemed reluctant to end a conversation with one of the Welsh Guards queuing at the castle when Charles tried to take him away.
The 80-year-old president and the king, 74, watched the army march past before going inside for tea.
Their private meeting lasted about 20 minutes. They later spoke to the Climate Finance Mobilization Forum of UK and US finance and philanthropic leaders.
A spokesman for the King said: “You will have seen for yourself the personal warmth between His Majesty and the President.”