Featured Image Credit: Associated Press / Alamy Stock Photo/BBC
Topics: Joe Biden, US News, Politics, King Charles III, Royal Family, Coronation, UK News, World News
Tom Wood
Topics: Joe Biden, US News, Politics, King Charles III, Royal Family, Coronation, UK News, World News
If you’ve turned on the TV or been on the internet today, you’ve no doubt noticed that there’s a whole heap of ceremony and stuff happening in the UK today. Of course, it’s the coronation of King Charles III.
Now, over in the UK we know they love a bit of tradition and ceremony, with every single royal event dripping in history, symbolism, and no small amount of absurdity.
However, there are some traditions that get upheld on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean as well, and that is believed to be part of the reason that current US President Joe Biden hasn’t attended the coronation in London today.
You see, the USA – as you’re no doubt all aware – was formed out of a rejection of Britain and the British crown.
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It was a long time ago, and seems strange to think about given the close political relationship between the two countries these days, but there was quite a large-scale war between the two nations, which eventually gave rise to the modern United States of America.
It’s with that in mind that the US President historically doesn’t attend coronations of the British monarch, and why Joe Biden hasn’t attended today’s glitzy get-together.
Instead, his wife and the First Lady Jill Biden has attended Westminster Abbey today to watch Charles get his sparkly hat.
Joe was invited, but politely turned down the invitation via a phone call, a statement from the White House confirmed.
In a statement, they said: "President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke today with King Charles III, underscoring the strength of the relationship between our countries and the friendship between our peoples,
"The President congratulated the King on his upcoming Coronation and informed him that First Lady Jill Biden looks forward to attending on behalf of the United States.”
The statement added: "The President also conveyed his desire to meet with the King in the United Kingdom at a future date."
No president has ever attended a British coronation since the US rejected British rule on July 4 1776, though delegations have been sent.
In 1953 for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, President Eisenhower sent along a party of four representatives, whereas Jill Biden’s presence today marks the first time a family member of the sitting POTUS has been sent.
Biden probably isn’t the most remarkably American to decline an invitation to the big bash, with Prince Harry’s wife Meghan choosing not to attend as well.
That's because she's remaining home to care for the pair’s children, Archie and Lilibet.
It's actually Archie's birthday on May 6, so hopefully she'll be tucking into a piece of cake wherever she is.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex released a statement that said: "Buckingham Palace is pleased to confirm that the Duke of Sussex will attend the Coronation Service at Westminster Abbey on 6th May.
"The Duchess of Sussex will remain in California with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.”