JOE Biden’s armoured limo got stuck in London traffic this morning as the US President made his way to the Queen’s funeral.
Mr Biden and wife Jill arrived in London on Sunday ahead of today’s huge ceremony at Westminster Abbey.
To reduce congestion, many world leaders are arriving at the funeral on shuttle busses organised by the British government.
Belgium's King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, Spain's King Felipe and Queen Letizia, Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia and the Netherlands' King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima are among those swapping swanky private vehicles for a humble group trip.
But Mr Biden was given a special exemption by the Foreign Office to be taken in his bulletproof limo dubbed ‘The Beast’.
As the car drove past thousands of spectators through central London this morning it almost ground to a halt by the Pret A Manger on Great Cumberland Place.
Police ushered excited members of the public away as they tried to get a closer look at the US President.
Yesterday Mr and Mrs Biden visited Westminster Hall to pay their respects to Her Majesty as she lay in state.
The US President crossed himself while looking sorrowfully towards the late monarch's coffin.
Mr Biden also visited Lancaster House where he signed a book of condolence.
The US president said the "world is better" because of the Queen.
"To all the people of England, all the people of the United Kingdom, our hearts go out to you," he said.
"You were fortunate to have had her for 70 years, we all were. The world is better for her."
Biden described the Queen as "decent" and "honest" – and compared her to his own mother.
He said: "She had that look which said 'are you ok, is there anything I can do for you, what do you need'."
Around 500 foreign dignitaries from across the globe have begun descending on Westminster Abbey to say a final goodbye to the Queen.
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The late monarch met with 13 of the last 14 US presidents during her incredible 70-year reign.
Her funeral begins at 11am today.
In solemn scenes, the royal family will be united – with Prince Harry and Prince William standing side by side.
The King will once again lead his family in marching behind the Queen's coffin when it is moved, at 10.44am from Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey.
He will walk with his sister Princess Anne, Duke of York and Earl of Wessex and behind the quartet will be the Queen's grandsons Peter Phillips, Duke of Sussex and the Prince of Wales.
They will be followed by the late monarch's son-in-law Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Duke of Gloucester, the Queen's cousin, and her nephew the Earl of Snowdon.
The Queen's coffin will be carried during the procession on a 123-year-old gun carriage towed by 98 Royal Navy sailors in a tradition dating back to the funeral of Queen Victoria.
The Procession will be led by a massed Pipes & Drums of Scottish and Irish Regiments, the Brigade of Gurkhas, and the Royal Air Force – numbering 200 musicians.
On the way to Westminster Abbey, the procession will go through Parliament Square, Broad Sanctuary and the Sanctuary.
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The procession will arrive at the west gate of Westminster Abbey at 10.52am when the bearer party will lift the coffin from the gun carriage and carry it into the Abbey for the state funeral service.
The service will begin at 11am and will be conducted by the Dean of Westminster.
About 2,000 people, including world leaders and foreign royals, will gather inside Westminister Abbey.
Prime Minister Liz Truss, and Commonwealth Secretary-General Hon Patricia Scotland KC will read lessons, while the Archbishop of York, the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland and the Free Churches Moderator will say prayers.
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