President Joe Biden and Queen Elizabeth II met in England on Friday at an event for world leaders attending the Group of Seven summit in Cornwall this weekend.
The meeting marks Biden’s first time meeting with the British monarch since he was inaugurated earlier this year, as well as the queen’s 13th meeting with a sitting US president.
Biden previously met the queen when he was a US Senator in 1982, the Guardian reported.
The sovereign’s presence in the seaside town of Carbis Bay came as a surprise, according to NBC News, as she joined leaders from the US, the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, and Italy.
The president and First Lady Jill Biden were photographed chatting with Queen Elizabeth at a reception following the first session of the summit which kicked off Friday.
Earlier in the day, the queen joined the world leaders for a “family photo” opportunity where she joked with her compatriots.
“Are you supposed to look as if you are enjoying yourselves?” she asked, causing the other heads of state to laugh.
The queen joined Prince Charles, Prince William, Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton, and several other world leaders for a reception later that evening at the Eden Project, a tropical garden.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson (4R) with wife Carrie Johnson (2R), United States President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles, Prince of Wales at a drinks reception for Queen Elizabeth II and G7 leaders at at The Eden Project during the G7 Summit on June 11, 2021 in St Austell, Cornwall, England.
Photo by Jack Hill – WPA Pool / Getty Images
The Duchess of Cambridge and Jill Biden also met on Friday, taking a trip to a local school
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (L) and U.S. First Lady Dr Jill Biden, carrying carrots for the school rabbit, Storm, during a visit to Connor Downs Academy, during the G7 summit in Cornwall on June 11, 2021 in Hayle, west Cornwall, England.
Photo by Jack Hill – WPA Pool / Getty Images
The Bidens are set to visit Windsor Castle on Sunday for a private audience with Queen Elizabeth II.
The long-reigning royal, who has sat on the throne since 1953, has met every sitting US president since Harry Truman, except for Lyndon B. Johnson.