(RepublicanWire.org) – President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill had to wait to take their seats at Queen Elizabeth’s funeral Monday – because they didn’t arrive on time.
Heads of state were expected to arrive at Westminster Abbey and be seated in a 20-minute period between 9.35am and 9.55am. But, because the Bidens were tardy, they were forced forced to wait for a procession of George and Victoria Cross-holders to pass down the nave of the abbey before they could take their seats.
The Bidens sat in the 14th row, immediately behind the Polish leader.
“US President Joe Biden will be 14 rows back on the south transept behind the Polish leader and in front of the Czech Republic. The First Lady Jill Biden will be next to Switzerland.
“Directly across the aisle from Mr. Biden’s place, the seat was labelled the Republic of Korea.”
“Perhaps as a consequence of opting out of the buses taking other leaders from the assembly point at Royal Hospital Chelsea, the Bidens were also given seats 14 rows back in the south transept of the abbey,” The Guardian reported Monday.
However, The UK Daily Mail reports that “Funeral seating has a strict protocol for the heads of state, prime ministers and presidents, members of European royal families and other guests among the 2,000 mourners gathered at the abbey.” Thus, the floor plan placed the Bidens in the 14th row.
While other world leaders traveled together in a bus – and arrived on time – the Bidens chose to travel to the funeral alone in the president’s armored limo. Reportedly, “The Beast” got stuck in traffic, causing the First Couple to miss their window to be seated on time.
When it came time to sign the official condolence guest book, again, Biden managed to turn heads. As he sat to fill in his solemn respects, he did so while working off one of his now infamous note sheets.