Joe Biden has visited Westminster Hall to pay his respects to the Queen. The US President arrived with his wife Jill at the lying in state this afternoon (September 18) ahead of his attendance at Monday’s funeral.
Some 2,000 people, including several world leaders and foreign royals, will attend the funeral at Westminster Abbey. Government sources believe it will be the 'largest international event' the UK has held in decades. A global TV audience of more than four billion people is expected to watch the proceedings.
Mr Biden, 79, touched down at Stansted Airport just before 10pm last night and cheers were heard from the crowd in central London on Sunday evening as his motorcade glided into and out of the Palace of Westminster.
The president had been due to meet Prime Minister Liz Truss on Sunday, but the talks were cancelled on Saturday. A “full bilateral meeting” was scheduled for Wednesday when the leaders are set to be in New York for the UN General Assembly.
People have queued for miles since the lying in state started last Wednesday (September 14) with peak waiting times of 25 hours.
Her Majesty's lying-in-state will end at 6.30am tomorrow morning, ahead of the coffin being moved to Westminster Abbey at 10.44am. The state funeral will start at 11am.
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