US leaders pay tribute to late Queen Elizabeth II

Donald Trump, Barack Obama and other former presidents recall the queen with fondness

Queen Elizabeth II speaking during the State Banquet in Buckingham Palace alongside Barack Obama, the US president at the time. Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth with US President Joe Biden at Windsor Castle in England on June 13, 2021. Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth with the Bidens at Windsor Castle. Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth with US first lady Jill Biden in the Grand Corridor at Windsor Castle. Getty Images

The Bidens with the queen at Windsor Castle. Reuters

Mr Biden and Queen Elizabeth. Reuters

Ms Biden with the queen at Windsor Castle. Reuters

Mr Biden and his wife with the queen after attending the G7 Leader's Summit. Getty Images

Former US president Barack Obama and the queen during a State Banquet in Buckingham Palace on May 24, 2011 in London. Getty Images

Mr Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama are welcomed by the queen to Buckingham Palace on April 1, 2009. Photo: White House

Ms Obama greets football star David Beckham at a dinner in honour of the queen at Winfield House in London, on May 25, 2011. Photo: US National Archives

Mr Obama and Queen Elizabeth greet guests including actor Colin Firth at Winfield House, on May 25, 2011. Photo: US National Archives

Mr Obama and his wife attend a State Banquet hosted by the queen at Buckingham Palace. Photo: US National Archives

Mr and Mrs Obama receive the queen and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, prior to a dinner in the queen's honour at Winfield House in London. Photo: US National Archives

Mr and Ms Obama talk with the queen, Prince Philip, US ambassador Louis Susman and his wife, Margaret. Photo: US National Archives

The queen and the Obamas at Winfield House, the residence of the US ambassador. Getty Images

The Obamas walk out to pose with the queen and Prince Phillip before a state dinner at Buckingham Palace. Reuters

Mr Obama and his wife pose for photographs with the queen and Prince Philip during an audience at Buckingham Palace on April 1, 2009. Getty Images

The queen is received by Eleanor Roosevelt, the US first lady at the time. Photo: US National Archives

Former US president Donald Trump and the queen inspect a Guard of Honour, formed of the Coldstream Guards, at Windsor Castle in July 2018. Getty Images

Former US first lady Melania Trump, the queen and the Duchess of Cornwall during the Ceremonial Welcome at Buckingham Palace. Photo: US National Archives

Mr Trump was criticised for walking ahead of the queen. Getty Images

The queen stands with Mr Trump and his wife Melania Trump as they listen to the US national anthem during a welcome ceremony at Buckingham Palace. AFP

The queen and Mr Trump during the commemorations for the 75th Anniversary of the D-Day landings at Southsea Common in Portsmouth, UK. AP

The queen with Mr Trump as he arrived in Britain for a state visit, which was overshadowed by his outspoken remarks on Brexit. AFP

Bill Clinton, the US president at the time, talks with the queen with Hillary Rodham Clinton and daughter Chelsea at the Garden Entrance of Buckingham Palace in December 2000. AFP

The queen, George W Bush, the US president at the time, Laura Bush, and the Duke of Edinburgh pose in the music room at Buckingham Palace in November 2003. Getty Images

The queen made a state visit to the US White House and was received by then-president George HW Bush and his wife Barbara Bush, along with Prince Philip, in May 1991. Getty Images

The queen and former US president George W Bush meet well-wishers outside the White House in May 2007. Getty Images

The queen accompanying Mr Bush, his wife Laura, then-US secretary of state Colin Powell and his wife Alma Powell, and the Duke of Edinburgh as they enter the Queen's Gallery at Buckingham Palace in 2003. AP

The elder Bush and his wife arrive on May 16, 1991, at a dinner at the British embassy in Washington accompanied by the queen and her husband. AFP

Queen Margrethe of Denmark, Prince Philip, the queen, former French president Jacques Chirac, Bernadette Chirac, George W Bush, Ms Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin attend the commemoration ceremony for the 60th anniversary of D-Day on June 6, 2004, in Arromanches, France. Getty Images

Then-US president Jimmy Carter joins the queen and Prince Philip at Buckingham Palace when he and six other world leaders attended a dinner. Getty Images

The queen raises a glass with then-US president Gerald Ford. Photo: US National Archives

The queen dances with Ford at the White House in Washington. Photo: US National Archives / Ford Library

Prince Philip, former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy, the queen and US president at the time John Kennedy appear together at Buckingham Palace after a dinner party in 1961. Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth out riding with then-US president Ronald Reagan at Windsor Park. PA

Queen Elizabeth with the West German chancellor at the time Helmut Kohl, Reagan, and the British prime minister at the time Margaret Thatcher at Buckingham Palace. AP

Reagan and Queen Elizabeth at a gala dinner at Windsor Castle. Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth with UK prime minister at the time Edward Heath and then-US president Richard Nixon and his wife Pat Nixon at Chequers in Buckinghamshire. PA

Queen Elizabeth with Nixon. AP

Queen Elizabeth entertains former US president Richard Nixon to lunch at Buckingham Palace. Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth II dies — follow the latest news as the world mourns

President Joe Biden led US tributes to Queen Elizabeth II, who died at age 96 on Thursday, with a visit to the British embassy in Washington.

"We mourn for all of you," Mr Biden said during his visit with first lady Jill Biden to sign a condolences book.

"She was a great lady. We were so delighted we got to meet her."

Queen Elizabeth met nearly every president during her seven-decade reign. The one president whom the monarch did not meet during her lifetime was Lyndon B Johnson, who held office from 1963 to 1969.

Her first encounter with a US president came in 1951. Still a princess, she met president Harry Truman in Washington, where she presented him and first lady Bess Truman with an overmantel for the newly renovated White House.

“Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was more than a monarch. She defined an era,” Mr Biden said in a statement before an evening visit to the embassy.

“The seven decades of her history-making reign bore witness to an age of unprecedented human advancement and the forward march of human dignity."

The president has directed "that the [American] flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations" until sunset on the day of the queen's interment.

Mr Biden was most recently received by Queen Elizabeth at Windsor Castle in June 2021 as part of his visit to the UK for the Group of Seven Summit in Cornwall.

At Windsor Castle, the Bidens were greeted with a guard of honour and tea.

Barack Obama paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth's warmth and kindness.

In his and former first lady Michelle Obama's commendation of the queen, they thanked her for a welcome in the beginning of his presidency.

“Michelle and I were lucky enough to come to know Her Majesty, and she meant a great deal to us,” Mr Obama wrote.

“Back when we were just beginning to navigate life as president and first lady, she welcomed us to the world stage with open arms and extraordinary generosity."

Mr Obama is the only US president to be invited back to Windsor Castle after he was out of office.

Donald Trump, who visited the Queen at Windsor Castle in 2018, said she will “reign forever in our hearts”. He added that he and former first lady Melania Trump will never forget her "generous friendship, great wisdom and wonderful sense of humour”.

“What a grand and beautiful lady she was — there was nobody like her!” he wrote on Truth Social.

Queen Elizabeth II meets celebrities - in pictures

Former president Bill Clinton, who toured Buckingham Palace with wife Hillary Clinton in 1995 and 2000, said they will “always be grateful for the kindness she showed”.

Jimmy Carter, another former president who visited Buckingham Palace in 1977, said the queen's grace and dignity were an inspiration.

Visiting Buckingham Palace produced some of the fondest memories for former president George Bush, who recalled having tea with the queen and her beloved corgis.

“Our world benefited from her steady resolve and we are grateful for her decades of service as sovereign. Americans in particular appreciate her strong and steadfast friendship,” Mr Bush said.

Speaking on the Senate floor earlier on Thursday morning, Republican leader Mitch McConell heralded Queen Elizabeth as “an exemplar of steady leadership” who “changed the world”.

Bob Menendez, chairman of the House Foreign Relations Committee, recalled how Congress was “honoured” to host her joint address in 1991.

“Her meaningful engagement with American leaders from President Truman to President Biden and her commitment to our countries' special relationship greatly contributed to the enduring friendship between our nations,” Mr Menendez said.

Additional reporting by Patrick deHahn