Carrie Symonds, Jill Biden dip toes in sea ahead of G7 talks
The US and UK First wives have bonded as they dipped their toes in the sea and played on the sand in thongs ahead of the global G7 talks.
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The US and UK First wives have bonded as they dipped their toes in the sea and played on the sand in thongs ahead of the global G7 talks.
Dr Jill Biden and Carrie Symonds were barefoot on the sand as they played with Symonds’ son Wilfred in Cornwall at Carbis Bay, Cornwall.
The newlywed Mrs Johnson and America’s First Lady had enjoyed tea together.
Symonds shared a picture to Instagram of herself carrying Wilfred as she walked along the beach with Dr Biden.
She wrote: “Wonderful to spend time this afternoon with the First Lady, Dr Jill Biden at Carbis Bay.
“We even dipped our toes into the water. Beautiful but freezing!”
Speaking to reporters at the Carbis Bay hotel, US President Joe Biden joked: “I told the PM we have something in common, we both married way above our station.”
Mr Johnson - who wed his fiancee Carrie in secret two weeks ago - replied: “I’m not going to disagree with the president there... Or indeed on anything else.”
The couples greeted with Covid-friendly elbow bump this afternoon, with President Biden telling the PM to “wait a minute” so he could approach Symonds first.
Symonds used her first duties as the new Mrs Johnson to promote the British high street, stepping out in a red LK Bennett dress and Zara shoes.
Dr Biden wore a jacket emblazoned with the word “love”, and said: “Well, I think that we’re bringing love from America.”
They all strolled along the beach at Carbis Bay, with the President telling his British counterpart: “It’s gorgeous, I don’t want to go home.”
Mr Biden and Mr Johnson have met for early talks at the G7 Summit in England on global health, climate change, transatlantic travel and to sign the new “Atlantic Charter” aimed at renewing the relationship between the US and UK for a “more peaceful and prosperous future”.
“Prime Minister Johnson and I had a very productive meeting,” Mr Biden said in a press conference.
“We discussed a broad range of issues … we affirmed the special relationship between our people.”
The leaders’ relationship is under the microscope during Mr Biden’s eight-day foreign trip with past tensions between the pair still lingering.
Mr Biden previously described the British Prime Minister as a “physical and emotional clone” of Donald Trump – who was a staunch supporter of Mr Johnson.
Prior to that, Mr Johnson called Mr Biden’s former boss, President Barack Obama, “half-Kenyan” and accused him of having an ancestral dislike of Britain.
On the surface, it appeared the leaders let bygones be bygones – at least momentarily – during their bilateral meeting in Carbis Bay, Cornwall, which followed a walk along a beach with their wives, Dr Jill Biden and Carrie Johnson.
“I’ve been to this great country many times, but this is my first time as President of the United States,” Mr Biden told Mr Johnson before talks moved behind closed doors.
Mr Biden and Mr Johnson share common ground on issues including climate change and support for international institutions but diverge on policy relating to Brexit and Northern Ireland’s role as part of Britain’s exit from the European Union. The Northern Ireland Protocol – part of the Brexit deal that creates a de facto trade border in the Irish Sea – has contributed to rising tensions in the region this year. The president staunchly opposed the Brexit movement – which Johnson championed – and has expressed concern over the future of Northern Ireland.
Mr Biden, who has ancestral roots in Ireland, has warned that the Belfast Agreement, also known as the Good Friday Agreement, must not jeopardised by disagreements over trade. Mr Mr Johnson has been frustrated by lacklustre new trade deal negotiations with the US.
But following the pair’s Thursday meeting, Mr Johnson said in a pool clip that he and the US President were in “complete harmony” over the need to uphold the Good Friday Agreement – which was signed in 1998 to restore self-government to Northern Ireland.
Mr Johnson denied rumours that Mr Biden had pressured him over the implementation of the Northern Ireland protocol, adding that the US, UK and European Union “have one thing we absolutely all want to do, and that is to uphold the Good Friday, the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement and make sure we keep the balance of the peace process going.”
“And that’s absolute common ground. And, you know, I’m optimistic that we can do that,” he added.
The G7 Summit, which starts on Friday local time, will mark the first-time world leaders have come together in person since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
The rollout of the coronavirus vaccination program and climate change are high on the agenda.
As part of his first overseas trip as president, Mr Biden is also scheduled to meet with Queen Elizabeth. He will also address US-Russia diplomatic tensions with President Vladimir Putin when the leaders meet next week.
According to Mr Biden, more details regarding the scope of the commitment will be released during the summit.
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Originally published as Carrie Symonds, Jill Biden dip toes in sea ahead of G7 talks
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