Sep 18, 2022 - Politics & Policy

Biden remembers Queen Elizabeth as "decent, honorable and all about service"

Sareen Habeshian

President Biden, accompanied by the first lady Jill Biden, signs a book of condolences at Lancaster House in London on Sept. 18. Photo: Jonathan Hordle-WPA Pool/Getty Images

President Biden offered condolences Sunday on the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, saying her loss "leaves a giant hole."

Driving the news: "I think what she gave is a sense of, maybe above all, the notion of service," Biden said after signing the book of condolences. "There’s something within our capacity to do that can make things — not just the world better, but your neighborhood better, your household better, your workplace better. And that, that’s what she communicated to me."

The president reflected upon meeting the queen when he visited Windsor Castle last summer, saying she was "the same in person" as her image: "decent, honorable and all about service."
He said she reminded him of his own mother: "She had that look like, “Are you OK? Anything I can do for you? What do you need?” And then also, “Make sure you do what you’re supposed to do.”

What's next: The president and first lady attended a reception with King Charles and other international leaders on Sunday and will attend the state funeral on Monday.

Thousands have turned out to visit the Queen as she lies in state. The line reached five miles on Friday and visitors had to be turned away.

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Biden remembers Queen Elizabeth as "decent, honorable and all about service"

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