US President Joe Biden on Wednesday offered his condolences to King Charles III on the death of Queen Elizabeth II and expressed his wish for the two countries to maintain a close relationship.
“The president recalled fondly the queen’s kindness and hospitality, including when she hosted him and the first lady [Jill Biden] at Windsor Castle last June,” the White House said in a readout of the call.
“He also conveyed the great admiration of the American people for the queen, whose dignity and constancy deepened the enduring friendship and special relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom.”
Queen Elizabeth died last week at the age of 96. On Wednesday her coffin was transported from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall, where she will lie in state until her funeral on Monday.
Mr Biden, who first met the queen as a US senator in 1982, praised her for commemorating the US bicentennial in 1976 and for standing in solidarity with the country after the September 11, 2001 terror attacks.
“Grief is the price we pay for love,” Mr Biden recalled Queen Elizabeth saying in the days following 9/11.
Mr Biden last week ordered flags at the White House and federal offices throughout the world to be displayed at half-mast until the queen's internment.
He and Ms Biden will travel to the UK on Saturday to attend Queen Elizabeth's funeral on Monday, the White House said.
Queen Elizabeth II and 13 US presidents — a timeline
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Queen Elizabeth II welcomes former US president John Kennedy to Buckingham Palace. AP -
The queen did not meet with Kennedy's successor, Lyndon Johnson. AP -
Queen Elizabeth speaking during a 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 -
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 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 Nixon during a lunch at Buckingham Palace. Getty Images -
Queen Elizabeth hosting Jimmy Carter, the US president at the time. Photo: US National Archives -
Carter reportedly kissed the queen's mother on the mouth. Photo: US National Archives -
The queen and Carter at a state dinner at Buckingham Palace. PA -
Bill Clinton and Queen Elizabeth smile for the cameras during the group photo session at the Guildhall before a celebratory banquet for the 50th anniversary of D-Day. AFP -
Clinton and his wife Hillary meet Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace. AFP -
Before she became queen, then-Princess Elizabeth joined President Harry Truman in the chief executive's limousine for her ride to Blair House after arriving at Military Air Transport Service Terminal in Washington. Photo: US National Archives -
Queen Elizabeth with US president Harry S Truman. Photo: US National Archive
