The King and I: Joe Biden and Charles III unite with tea and eco-activism at Windsor Castle

LONDON — What does a British king have in common with the son of a car salesman from Scranton, Pennsylvania? Quite a bit, it turns out.

When US President Joe Biden arrives at Windsor Castle on Monday, he will renew a relationship with King Charles III that goes back decades.

Biden has made sure to stop in Britain on his way to this week’s NATO summit in Lithuania for a first bilateral reception with Charles since he ascended the throne, along with talks with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in Downing Street. . The president missed the king’s coronation in May, where the United States was represented by first lady Jill Biden, and chose not to visit Britain during his trip to Ireland and Northern Ireland in April.

Biden and Charles come from very different backgrounds, but are of a similar generation (the king is six years Biden’s junior) and share a strong commitment to tackling climate change, as well as a deep love of Ireland and Irish culture.

Less welcome may be a shared concern about wayward children, a topic perhaps best avoided during a high tea at the castle.

“They know each other well, they will relax,” said Peter Ricketts, a former senior British diplomat who headed the UK Foreign Office from 2006 to 2010. “They know how to play the diplomatic game … without naming any previous American president. I think it will be a very friendly, warm and well thought out discussion.”

Biden, a proud Irish-American, has long made it clear in private that he is not the biggest fan of the English monarchy. But he has told his allies that he respects Queen Elizabeth II’s leadership and has found common ground with Carlos on the urgent need to combat climate change.

Environmental issues will form the backbone of the two-man meeting in Windsor on Monday. Biden and Charles will receive a joint briefing from Britain’s Net Zero and Energy Security Secretary Grant Shapps and US Presidential Special Envoy for Climate John Kerry on a transatlantic campaign to “accelerate the deployment of literally trillions of dollars” of investment in climate change, Kerry. he told the BBC on Sunday.

Both heads of state are way on environmental issues. King Charles championed the ecological cause long before it was considered mainstream and has consistently used his influence to advocate for the environment. Biden has sought to reassert the US role in reducing carbon emissions, rejoining the Paris Agreement upon taking office and passing the Cut Inflation Act, his historic injection of $500 billion in clean energy. and green industries.

The couple have joined forces on green campaigns before, with TV cameras capturing Biden telling the then-prince at the COP26 climate summit that “we need you very much” in the global push to cut emissions.

Both leaders have also previously stressed the importance of engaging business leaders on the issue, as highlighted by the king’s Sustainable Markets Initiative. As head of the Commonwealth, Charles is particularly interested in states vulnerable to climate.

sense of calm

Beyond environmental issues, the Windsor summit is designed to radiate a restored sense of calm and cooperation between two longtime allies after a turbulent few years in British and American politics, and ahead of the potential turmoil of general elections in both. countries next year.

“(Charles) has quite a rich backstory when it comes to the United States,” added a former royal aide, speaking anonymously so they could be candid about their former employer. “He has met with every president since Nixon. He has very, very vivid memories of his being in the White House with his sister (Princess Anne) when Nixon was president, and his experience will absolutely influence the kind of conversations he wants to have.”

Another well-established link between the two heads of state is their dedication to their respective countries’ relationship with Ireland and Northern Ireland, which is also likely on the agenda.

A former Irish diplomat said the king “has very clearly upheld his mother’s legacy, in terms of her very positive influence in improving relations”, agreeing that Charles and Biden “have in common their shared and very constructive interest In Ireland”.

They added that this had been underscored by Charles’ engagement with Irish leaders at the time of Queen Elizabeth II’s death and again at the coronation, and in Biden’s case with his visits to Belfast and Dublin to mark the 25th anniversary. of the Good Friday Agreement. A visit to Ireland is expected to feature on Charles’s calendar next year.

While the tone of interactions between the UK government and its closest neighbors had “heated up” with the signing of the Windsor Framework agreement in February, the same former diplomat said, both men are likely concerned by the absence of a ruling executive. in Belfast.

photo op diplomacy

At least as important as what the two men actually say will be the optics of the visit.

Simon Fraser, like Ricketts, former head of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, noted: “I think what you’re really looking for is atmosphere, ceremony and expression at the highest possible level of relationship”.

This has additional significance in the context of this week’s NATO summit, according to Ricketts.

“Britain is America’s closest ally in NATO, so it’s a very natural occasion for them to talk about it a little bit in carefully apolitical and non-partisan terms,” ​​he said.

Fraser agreed, predicting the pair will discuss Ukraine, while a serving British diplomat noted: “They are both commanders-in-chief and heads of state, and the King has a very, very close interest in all things defense.” . related.”

Their closely related strategic interests are underpinned by a sense of shared perspective as two leaders who have stood out on the world stage for 40 years or more. Charles, 74, is more than 30 years older than Sunak, who became Britain’s youngest prime minister in more than two centuries when he took office last year.

“They have seen a lot of changes,” said the former Irish diplomat quoted above. “There is a wealth of experience and wisdom to draw on. They have both seen a lot in their political lives, particularly when you compare them to the people in government in London.”

Jonathan Lemire was reporting from Washington, DC Annabelle Dickson and Charlie Cooper also reported from London.