Monday 19 September 2022 10:56 AM King Charles and the Queen Consort welcome leaders including Joe Biden to ... trends now

King Charles III led senior royals in meeting with US President Joe Biden and other world leaders in a reception at Buckingham Palace last night. 

The King enjoyed a warm handshake with Mr Biden and his wife Jill, after the President had earlier issued a touching tribute to the Queen, saying the 'world was better for her'. 

He was later engaged in conversation with the couple, along with the Queen Consort and the Prince and Princess of Wales.

His Majesty also met with dozens of other world leaders who have come to London for the Queen's state funeral today. 

They included Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau, Dubai's billionaire ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and French president Emmanuel Macron. 

Such a reception involving world leaders and British royals has not seen since the death of Queen Elizabeth II's father George VI in 1952, more than 70 years ago.

More recently, but not on such a grand scale, the now late Queen attended the G7 in Cornwall where she met and took part in pictures with the G7 leaders.

President of Ireland Michael D Higgins was seen being dropped off at the palace from a coach along with the former King and Queen Consort of Spain, Juan Carlos and Sofia and Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission.

Other working members of the royal family including the Earl and Countess of Wessex, the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence also mingled with guests including Japan's Emperor Naruhito and the Kings and Queens from Holland, Norway and Sweden.

It came after the King and Queen of Bhutan last night paid tribute to the Queen while she was lying-in-state at Westminster Hall.

King Jigme Khesar and Queen Jetsun Pema, dubbed the 'Prince William and Kate Middleton of the Himalayas', made the journey to London ahead of the state funeral today.