Joe Biden accepts invite from the King for UK state visit after ‘friendly conversation’
The King has invited Joe Biden to the UK for a state visit which the US president has accepted, the White House has announced.
The invitation came during a conversation between the pair on Tuesday, in which Mr Biden informed the King that US first lady Jill Biden would attend his coronation in May.
US presidents traditionally do not attend British monarchs’ coronations.
“The president was appreciative of the offer by the King and looks forward to that state visit,” White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters.
She said that Mr Biden spoke on the phone with the King for around 25 to 30 minutes.
“He congratulated the King on his upcoming coronation, they have a very friendly conversation, he has a good relationship with the King,” she said.
“He talked about how he enjoyed visiting the Queen back in 2021 when he and the first lady came to Windsor and he hoped to visit again soon.
“Actually, during the call, the King offered for him to come and do a state visit which the president accepted.
“So they will see each other again very soon… there are many things that they both care about, key shared values, key shared issues, that they want to continue to discuss like climate change.”
Ms Jean-Pierre did not have a specific timeline for when the visit would take place, though she said it would be “in the near future”.
Visit to Ireland
Meanwhile, Mr Biden will address the Irish parliament next Thursday as part of his much-anticipated visit to Ireland.
He will begin his trip in Belfast before travelling on to Dublin with visits to Co Louth and Co Mayo where his ancestors are from.
He is set to address TDs, senators and MEPs in the Dail chamber as part of his visit to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar told the media that Mr Biden’s visit offered an opportunity to advance issues discussed during the Washington DC visit two weeks prior.
“The number one objective of President Biden’s visit to Ireland is to welcome a son of Ireland home, to welcome home a great Irish American president and to cement and strengthen the really good relationship that we have at the moment with the US,” he said.
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“I don’t think relations have ever been stronger or closer between Ireland and the US, and we want to cement that and use the opportunity of the meetings we’re going to have.”
The US leader will also deliver a public address outside St Muredach’s Cathedral in Ballina, Co Mayo, next Friday evening.
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“Given the deep, historic ties between Ireland and the United States of America, both the Ceann Comhairle and the Cathaoirleach are very much looking forward to welcoming the president to Leinster House,” a statement said on Wednesday.
Mr Biden will become the fourth US president to address the Oireachtas, following John F Kennedy’s address in June 1963, Ronald Reagan’s in June 1984 and Bill Clinton’s in December 1995.
