Biden, VIPs Lay Low as Spotlight Stays on Late Queen

By DARLENE SUPERVILLE, Associated Press

LONDON (AP) American presidents usually make a splash when they travel abroad, holding the spotlight and quickly becoming the center of attention.

Not this time.

For U.S. President Joe Biden and other presidents, prime ministers and dignitaries, there were no red-carpet arrivals, no big speeches and no news conferences as they gathered for Monday's state funeral for Queen Elizabeth II. Instead, world leaders used to people hanging on their every word checked their egos in the service of honoring the queen, Britain's longest-serving monarch, who died earlier this month at age 96 after 70 years on the throne.

They know that they are there to honor the passing, honor the individual, said Capricia Marshall, who was the U.S. State Department's protocol chief for a period during Barack Obama's administration. They also are aware that they're representing their country.

The protocol office is a key player in U.S. foreign policy and diplomatic affairs by working to make sure that U.S. officials don't say or do anything that will offend a foreign visitor or host.

The president and first lady are among some 2,000 people attending the funeral at Westminster Abbey. They arrived late Saturday and were met at the airport by the U.S. ambassador and a few other officials. The couple paid respects to the queen on Sunday, viewing her coffin at Westminster Hall, signing condolence books at Lancaster House and attending a Buckingham Palace reception for funeral guests hosted by King Charles III.