Joe Biden met the Queen for the first time at a no-holds-barred reception with G7 leaders at the Eden Project tonight – after the US President appeared to break royal protocol.
President Biden’s 18-car convoy swept into the venue in Cornwall five minutes after the Queen got there with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Charles and Camilla.
It is usual for all guests to be in place before the Queen arrives for any official event.
But it appears no grudges were held by the most senior members of the firm, as pictures showed the Queen beaming as she spoke to the president and his wife.
The Royals are at the centre of Britain’s diplomatic mission to woo the US as Mr Johnson pushes for a quick free trade deal with President Biden as well as a quarantine-free travel corridor this summer.
Joe Biden met the Queen for the first time at a no-holds-barred reception with G7 leaders at the Eden Project tonight
President Biden’s 18-car convoy swept into the venue in Cornwall five minutes after the Queen arrived with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Charles and Camilla
US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill were also seen arriving as they walked underneath the leaf-covered arches and headed into the reception
But it appears no grudges were held by the most senior members of the firm, as pictures showed the Queen beaming as she spoke to the president and his wife
The Queen is seen in a car ahead of arriving at the Eden Project in Cornwall for a reception with G7 leaders tonight
Debrett’s – a leading authority on royal etiquette – states: ‘It is correct for everyone to arrive before the royal personage and protocol rules that no guest should leave an event before a member of the Royal Family.’
The President and the First Lady are due to meet again on Sunday when the President and his wife Jill will join the Queen for tea at Windsor Castle.
The US President’s convoy of cars was flanked by eight police outriders, arriving at the venue shortly before 7pm.
They had driven from the G7 hotel in Carbis Bay following a photo call on the beach and a round of meetings with other world leaders.
The reception will be the first time the Queen has met a foreign leader since the start of the pandemic and her first major official engagement since the death of the Duke of Edinburgh.
G7 leaders are seen speaking with the Queen at the Eden Project reception tonight
It is rare for the monarch and the two heirs to be together at the same official engagement outside of Buckingham Palace.
The Queen had travelled to Cornwall by train and smiled and waved to a small group of onlookers who had gathered at the service entrance to the Eden Project.
The rear entrance was chosen as it affords the best view of the glass domes as the cars sweep down into the former quarry.
The US President was in a blue Chevrolet SUV with the stars and stripes flag attached to the front of the vehicle.,
Back up vehicles carried secret service agents and the convoy also included a medical team.
The US President’s convoy of cars was flanked by eight police outriders, arriving at the venue shortly before 7pm
They had driven from the G7 hotel in Carbis Bay following a photo call on the beach and a round of meetings with other world leaders
President Biden’s motorcade included a police escort on motorbikes (pictured)
A military vehicle that contains electronic countermeasures and is distinctive with a domed radar on its roof made up the convoy.
Many locals who live near the Eden Project had waited several hours for the VIPs to arrive – and were not disappointed.
‘It is not everyday you have the US President coming down here,’ said Anne Jameson.
‘I also saw the Queen and she smiled and waved. It is quite something.’
Inside the venue the world leaders dined of food cooked by chef Emily Scott from the Watergate hotel near Newquay.
The menu included locally caught Turbot served with Cornish new potatoes.
Dessert will be English strawberry pavlova followed by a cheese course that will feature Cornish Gouda, Cornish yarg, Helford blue.
The Queen arrived at the Eden Project in Cornwall for a reception with G7 leaders – as Britain pulls out all the stops to dazzle the world’s most powerful
Kate cut an elegant figure in a mid-length cream gown while Camilla opted for a long sleeve black and white dress. The Queen fit the horticultural theme of the venue in a dress patterned with flowers
The meal will end with petit fours that will include clotted cream fudge.
Mr Johnson today expanded on his vision for the qualities the world should be encouraging following the havoc wreaked by Covid-19.
In a bizarre opening speech, he urged other G7 leaders to aim for a more ‘feminine’ and ‘gender neutral’ recovery and appealed for them to ‘level up’ and not repeat the mistakes of the aftermath of the credit crunch when ‘inequality’ increased.
Mr Johnson arrived hand in hand with Carrie at the Eden Project tonight, with the PM’s new wife wearing a black and floral The Vampire’s Wife dress which, when bought new, is £805.
But Carrie has shown a love for rental fashion apps and websites so far during her trip – with tonight’s dress rented from British website HURR.
G7 leaders posed with the Queen for tonight’s event in Cornwall. The domes of the Eden Project are seen in the background
The Prime Minister’s new wife Carrie Johnson bumped elbows with President Biden as First Lady Jill beamed during tonight’s reception
Tomorrow’s entertainment will include a barbecue on Carbis Bay beach that will feature the Red Arrows flypast and music from sea shanty group Du Hag Owr.
Chef Simon Stallard from the Hidden Hut restaurant in nearby Portscatho has put together a menu that will include local crab, mackerel, lobster and sirloin plus Cornish sparkling wine.
Away from the feasting and politics, pandemic precautions have meant all countries are sending smaller delegations than usual.
All delegates, including leaders, will have to take a Covid test every day.
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, who was invited by Mr Johnson to attend the latter stages of the summit, will now take part virtually because of his country’s continuing Covid crisis.
Earlier today, the Duchess of Cambridge, 39, joined First Lady Jill Biden, 70, to meet children aged four and five in reception class at the Connor Downs Academy near Camborne this afternoon – followed by a round table discussion with UK education experts convened by Kate.
The royal mother-of-three and the US First Lady discussed female empowerment, children and early education during a seminar on their shared passion for children.
The animated pair, who met for the first time today, seemed to get on like a house on fire as they met children, staff and even helped feed carrots to the class rabbit, Storm.
Kate also told reporters she ‘can’t wait to meet’ her new niece Lilibet.