Jill Biden meets Rishi Sunak's wife Akshata Murty at Downing Street
Jill Biden meets Rishi Sunak’s wife Akshata Murty at Downing Street as First Lady arrives in London to represent her husband Joe at King Charles’ Coronation
Jill Biden, wife of US President Joe Biden, has been welcomed to No. 10 Downing Street by Akshata Murty, wife of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
The First Lady will be representing the US at King Charles’ Coronation tomorrow, as no American president has ever attended the royal event.
Biden, 71, will visit a local school on Friday afternoon along with Murty before meeting staff at the U.S. embassy and King Charles at a reception in Buckingham Palace.
The pair have met veterans taking part in a boxing session in the pillared room in Downing Street.
The US first lady and the Prime Minister’s wife were introduced by veterans minister Johnny Mercer to former lance corporal Maurillia Simpson.
Mr Mercer helped Ms Simpson, who has won a gold medal at the Invictus Games, out of her wheelchair so she could stand and talk with the Mrs Biden and Ms Murty.
After talking for a few minutes, the three of them helped the veteran, who was injured during service, back into her chair.
Jill Biden, wife of US President Joe Biden, has been welcomed to No. 10 Downing Street Akshata Murty, wife of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak
Akshata Murthy greets Finnegan Biden, Jill Biden’s granddaughter, outside of No 10 Downing Street
US First Lady Jill Biden takes the water out of her umbrella as she is welcomed by Akshata Murty
While President Biden has faced some criticism, notably from his predecessor and potential 2024 election rival Donald Trump , for skipping Charles’ coronation.
During the last such event, when Charles’ late mother Queen Elizabeth was crowned in 1953, then U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower sent a delegation of envoys to represent him.
The White House said last month Biden had told Charles he wanted to meet the king in Britain at a future date.
Biden visited Belfast and Ireland last month to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday peace pact.
Remarkably, new research has revealed how Mrs Biden and King Charles are distant cousins.
The monarch and Mrs Biden both descend from 16th century noble couple Philippe III de Croÿ and his wife Johanna. They are 13th cousins once removed.
Philippe III, who died in 1595, served as a knight under Spain’s King Philip II, the husband of Queen Mary who sent the Spanish Armada to invade England in 1588.
The research by genealogy website MyHeritage has also shown that the King is a 12th cousin of Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, who will also be at the Coronation.
Remarkably, new research has revealed how Mrs Biden and King Charles are distant cousins
The King and Mrs Biden are both the 13th generation descending from De Croÿ.
The ‘once removed’ element of their connection refers to the number of generations that separate them.
A first cousin once removed would refer to a cousin who is of your parents’ generation.
De Croÿ, who was also the Stadtholder – or steward – of Flanders in Belgium, had daughters Anne and Marguerite with his wife.
Charles is directly descended from Anne, whilst Mrs Biden descends from Marguerite.
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