On Thursday, Joe and Jill Biden paid tribute to the Queen’s 70 years on the throne, hailing her’selfless commitment and service’ to the British people.
The president and first lady recalled the Queen’s ‘generosity’ when they visited her at Windsor Castle in June 2021 in a video tribute shared to their social media accounts to commemorate the Queen’s platinum jubilee.
They also claimed that the Queen was instrumental in bringing the United States and the United Kingdom closer together.
In his statement, President Biden stated, ‘Congratulations on your Platinum Jubilee.’
‘For 70 years, your unselfish devotion and service to the people of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth has inspired millions.’
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.’
Biden then chimed in: ‘On behalf of the people in the United States, we send your best wishes to you and people around the world marking this momentous and historic occasion.’
And Jill concluded the message with: ‘Congratulations, Your Majesty, and have a wonderful Platinum Jubilee celebration.’
In 2021, while in the United Kingdom for a G7 meeting, the Bidens stopped at Windsor Castle to meet the Queen.
They had a private tea with her inside. And Biden also held an Inspection of the Guard of Honor on the castle grounds.
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.
After that meeting, Biden told reporters the Queen reminded him of his mom 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 said.
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.
The president also said that during tea with the Queen, 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.
Asked if he had invited her to the White House, Biden responded: ‘yes.’
The Queen marked her 70 years on the throne Thursday with an appearance on the balcony at Buckingham Palace.
She was joined by four generatons of the Royal Family as tens of thousands of Britons cheered and waved the Union Jack.
The 96-year-old monarch, who wore her Guards brooch and the blue Angela Kelly outfit used in her official Platinum Jubilee portrait, exclaimed ‘incredible!’ when she took the salute after arriving from Windsor Castle.
Senior royals including Prince Charles, Camilla, Prince William and Kate and their children, stood bysde her. There was no place on the Palace balcony for Prince Harry, Meghan Markle or Prince Andrew given that none of them are no longer working royals.
Wearing sunglasses, the Queen looked joyful as she surveyed the patriotic scenes, giving broad smiles as she enjoyed the six-minute flypast which involved 70 aircraft, including Apache helicopters, Typhoons and the Red Arrows. Fifteen RAF Typhoons paid a special tribute to the Queen’s reign, flying in the formation of the number 70.
Earlier, the Queen had made a surprise appearance on the balcony earlier to inspect the troops, known as Trooping the Color.
Thursday marks the first of four days of festivities. It featured a military parade with hundreds of Army musicians, 240 horses, a Royal Air Force flyover and a gun salute.