President Joe Biden will attend the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, the White House confirmed on Friday, making him maybe probably the most high-profile mourner planning to attend.
The 96-year-old queen died at her dwelling in Balmoral, Scotland on Thursday and shut members of the family rushed to be together with her, together with her grandson Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge.
The late queen’s son, now King Charles III, has declared a interval of royal mourning that may final till seven days after his mom’s funeral. Details of the funeral are anticipated to be introduced quickly.
Biden and his spouse, First Lady Jill Biden, provided their condolences on the queen’s passing in a prolonged assertion issued on Thursday.
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
“Queen Elizabeth II was a stateswoman of unmatched dignity and constancy who deepened the bedrock Alliance between the United Kingdom and the United States. She helped make our relationship special,” the Bidens stated.
“We send our deepest condolences to the Royal Family, who are not only mourning their Queen, but their dear mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Her legacy will loom large in the pages of British history, and in the story of our world,” the assertion went on.
Biden shouldn’t be the one main determine who could also be anticipated to attend the funeral. Foreign heads of state and authorities, together with different European monarchs, presidents and prime ministers, are nearly sure to affix mourners within the United Kingdom.
The president additionally issued an order on Thursday that flags on the White House and different federal authorities buildings ought to fly at half-staff till Elizabeth II’s funeral.
The Bidens met Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle in June 2021 only a few months after he turned president. It was his first overseas journey as commander-in-chief.
Buckingham Palace issued a press release on Friday morning in regards to the procedures for royal mourning and defined what the general public can anticipate within the coming days.
“Following the death of Her Majesty the Queen, it is His Majesty the King’s wish that a period of royal mourning be observed from now until seven days after the Queen’s funeral. The date of the funeral will be confirmed in due course,” the assertion stated.
The new king is touring from Balmoral to London on Friday the place he’ll meet the just lately appointed Prime Minister Liz Truss. On Saturday morning, Charles III will probably be formally proclaimed king after the normal accession council.
“The Proclamation will be read by Garter King of Arms, accompanied by the Earl Marshal, other Officers of Arms and the Serjeants at Arms,” Buckingham Palace stated in a press release. “This is the first public reading of the Proclamation.”
Other public proclamations will comply with in London and elsewhere.
Update 09/09/22, 9.10 a.m. ET: This article was up to date to incorporate extra data.