Steerpike Steerpike

Was Sleepy Joe late for the Queen’s funeral?

(Photo: Getty)

Steerpike was awed by the Queen’s funeral yesterday. Flowers lined the streets of London and Windsor, foreign dignitaries flew in from all over the world and bearskins marched alongside the coffin in perfect harmony. But there was one thing that didn’t seem to go to plan, thanks to President Biden.

Apparently, Sleepy Joe and his wife Jill were late, messing up the perfectly planned order of entrance to Westminster Abbey. The Guardian reported that the first couple had to be gently told to stand and wait as a procession of soldiers went ahead of them.

The word is that there had to be a period of small talk at the entrance before it was decided that those given the highest decorations of military valour would go ahead of the president. If there was one day to make sure the alarm was set, then it was probably yesterday…

There may be another reason for Biden’s gaffe, as the president had been given a special exemption to ride to the abbey in the ‘the Beast’, the heavily armoured presidential limousine.

Steerpike
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Steerpike

Steerpike is The Spectator's gossip columnist, serving up the latest tittle tattle from Westminster and beyond. Email tips to steerpike@spectator.co.uk or message @MrSteerpike

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