Will Joe Biden attend King Charles’ Coronation?

King Charles’ Coronation is a little over a month away, with many illustrious guests, including world leaders, expected to be in attendance.

Will Joe Biden be at King Charles’ coronation?

Buckingham Palace has already emailed guests telling them to save the date for the ceremony, as well as asking them to submit their answers by Monday. American President Joe Biden is amongst those invited.

However, The UK Telegraph reports Biden isn’t expected to attend the event due to prior commitments.

Although Biden isn’t expected to attend, the U.S. is said to be keen to show support for the King by sending high-profile representatives in his place, with Jill Biden, the First Lady, and Vice President Kamala Harris amongst the possible options.

Heads of state from Ireland, France, Spain, Belgium, Japan, Hungary and Monaco will attend, as well as the three presidents of the EU - Ursula von der Leyen, Roberta Metsola and Charles Michel.

Possible reasons for Biden’s absence

Dame Karen Pierce, the British ambassador to the U.S., is said to have held talks with the White House over the Coronation, and was told that Biden already has other commitments.

The 80-year-old is set to visit Northern Ireland in April to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, and is reportedly considering announcing his intention to stand for re-election in 2024.

Although not yet confirmed, Biden’s absence has been met with mixed reactions from British politicians.

“It seems pretty remiss, and I’m tempted to say more fool him for not coming,” said Conservative MP Bob Seely. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime event, and you would have thought he should come because he’s a head of state.

“If I was the President of the United States, I would come to the Coronation of the King of England – there’s no two ways about it. It just seems to be a foolish decision.”

However, Tobias Ellwood, chairman of the defence select committee, pointed out there is no protocol for an American president to attend royal coronations. No U.S. president has ever attended the coronation of a new monarch.

“Whilst we’d hope Joe Biden would be invited, there is no historical protocol for a US president to attend royal coronations, so we should not read too much into any absence,” said Ellwood.

“America will be represented, and it will be telling who the president chooses to send.”

Dwight D. Eisenhower didn’t attend the Coronation of Elizabeth II. Instead, he sent a delegation including George C. Marshall, the US Army chief of staff during the Second World War, and Earl Warren, the governor of California.