World leaders including Joe and Jill Biden arrive in UK for Queen’s funeral as 2m people prepare to travel to London
18 September 2022, 09:00 | Updated: 18 September 2022, 09:50
US president Joe Biden has arrived in the UK along with other world leaders for his visit to attend the Queen's funeral.
Air Force One touched down at Stansted Airport just before 10pm.
President Biden and his wife, Jill, were greeted by a small party as they stepped off the plane at Stansted Airport.
The group included Jane Hartley, US ambassador to the UK, and Jennifer Tolhurst, the Lord Lieutenant of Essex.
Read more: Queue enters last full day - with 12-hour wait - ahead of minutes silence at 8pm
Read more: William leads Queen's grandchildren in poignant vigil at her coffin
The President and First Lady left the US just hours after Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako arrived in London on a first class flight. They will travel on a bus along with other dignitaries, but the Biden’s have been granted an exception to use ‘The Beast,’ the president’s armoured limousine.
Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau, Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese and prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne, are among some of the world leaders who have already arrived in London.
New Zealand's prime minister Jacinda Ardern was one of the first world leaders to pay her respects in London on Friday. The prime minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina touched down on Thursday afternoon.
King and Prince of Wales greet mourners in queue for Queen’s lying in state
The arrivals come as two million mourners prepare to descend on London for the Queen’s funeral.
It is expected to be the highest attended event in British history and the most watched TV broadcast ever, with viewing figures estimated at over 4bn people.
It will also see one of the UK’s biggest ever transport operations, as mourners descend on London.
TfL said it was preparing for an extra one million people to visit the capital.
Around 250 extra train services will run, and National Highways has suspended all planned motorway closures across England.
There are fears the transport network may be overwhelmed if too many visitors to the capital try to leave all at once when the service ends immediately after noon tomorrow. People are being advised to try to delay their return journeys if possible.
As hundreds of dignitaries from across the globe descend on London to pay their respects to the Queen, Liz Truss is set to meet three more world leaders, including her Irish counterpart.
The talks may be casual, portrayed by No 10 as chats rather than formal bilateral sessions, but the Prime Minister's meeting with Taoiseach Micheal Martin comes against a backdrop of political tensions over post-Brexit trading arrangements.
She had been due to meet Mr Joe Biden, but the talks were cancelled on Saturday, with a "full bilateral meeting" scheduled instead for Wednesday, when they are set to be in New York for the UN General Assembly.
In addition to Mr Martin, Ms Truss will meet Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau and Polish president Andrzej Duda in Downing Street on Sunday.
The weekend's talks with world leaders are being framed by No 10 as chats to offer condolences over the Queen's death, during which politics is likely to come up.
Mr Martin has met Ms Truss in person briefly since she became Prime Minister earlier this month.
They were seated next to one another during a memorial service for the Queen at St Anne's Cathedral in Belfast on Tuesday.
The meeting with Mr Martin comes as Britain is expected to push ahead with legislation to give ministers the power to scrap parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol, which was jointly agreed by the UK and EU in order to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland.
Both the EU and Ireland claim Britain's move to unilaterally revise the post-Brexit treaty would breach international law.
The issue is expected to ramp up ahead of a deadline at the end of October to form a new Northern Ireland Executive, which the DUP has so far blocked in protest over the protocol.
The PM kicked off her meetings with world leaders on Saturday, speaking to her counterparts from New Zealand and Australia.
The talks were held at the Government's Chevening country residence, rather than Chequers, which is said to be undergoing routine maintenance work after Boris Johnson's exit.
Ms Truss will also have an audience with the King at Buckingham Palace on Sunday, before attending his reception for visiting heads of state.
At 8pm, she will observe a minute's silence with the country to mourn the Queen's death and reflect on her life and legacy.
People have been invited to mark the occasion privately at home, on their doorstep or street, or at community events and vigils.
