King Charles and Joe Biden will meet at Windsor Castle later today for a pivotal meeting regarding UK-US relations. The US president, who arrived in the UK on Sunday evening, will receive a warm welcome from the monarch complete with some pomp and ceremony. President Biden will receive a royal salute, hear the US national anthem performed by the Welsh Guards and sit down for tea with the King. The pair will then meet with financial and philanthropic leaders who will have attended the climate finance mobilisation forum.
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The US President’s visit, which has been described as a “mini-state visit”, comes just when Anglo-American relations appear strained.
As reported by the Telegraph, King Charles is said to be a “gifted diplomat” and “much liked by world leaders” and the Government is hoping the monarch can improve US-UK relations as Rishi Sunak is currently at odds with the President over cluster bombs in Ukraine.
Sunak has stated that the UK “discourages” the use of cluster bombs, adding that the UK will continue to support Ukraine “against Russia’s illegal and unprovoked invasion”.
His comments come after the US agreed to send them to Ukraine, a decision that received backlash.
The Prime Minister is meeting Biden in London this morning, before heading to Windsor to meet the King.
King Charles and Biden will also use their visit to bring attention to climate issues.
It has also been annouced that the pair will view a Royal Collection exhibition relating to the US, as well as meeting members of the US/UK Climate Finance Mobilisation Forum.
The pair will host a forum that will focus on how to encourage private companies to engage in more clean energy efforts, specifically focused on developing economies.
As Biden travelled to the UK, Jake Sullivan, the national security adviser, told reporters on Air Force One: “The president has huge respect for the King’s commitment on the climate issue in particular, that he has been a clarion voice on this issue and more than that, has been an actor, someone who’s mobilised action and effort.
“So the president comes at this with enormous goodwill.”
The visit marks the first time that the King has met with Joe Biden since his Coronation in May.
The US president, however, did not make an appearance at the historic event. His wife Jill Biden attended on his behalf.
Speaking prior to the president’s arrival at Windsor Castle, royal reporter Cameron Walker said that there has been a fair amount of excitement regarding the meeting.
He told GB News: “The red carpet has been rolled out here at Windsor Castle today – the excitement has been building since Thursday.”
“Two US military helicopters were spotted flying over the castle, in an apparent rehearsal for [Biden’s] visit.”
The meeting will take place in the “quadrangle” of Windsor Castle, with the pair hearing “the conclusion” following the meeting.
