President Biden notably did not attend the historic coronation of King Charles III this weekend, opting to instead send first lady Jill Biden in his stead and one historian asserts that he breached more than a century of precedent in doing so.

(Video Credit: TODAY)

The media is quick to point out that Biden is honoring a long-held American tradition by skipping the coronation of the king. That perhaps would have been understandable. But he chose instead to break precedent by sending his wife in his place, according to the New York Post. She is the only first lady to do so.

Jill Biden touched down in the UK with her 22-year-old granddaughter Finnegan Biden, the daughter of Hunter Biden, as fill-ins for the President of the United States. According to the New York Post, the granddaughter wore yellow and the first lady wore pale blue, the colors of the Ukraine flag in a visible statement of support for the war-torn country.

The first lady was just 2 years old when Queen Elizabeth was crowned in June 1953. Queen Elizabeth II held the throne for seven decades until her death in September at the age of 96.

The president offered his congratulations via social media on Saturday, writing, “Congratulations to King Charles III and Queen Camilla on their Coronation. The enduring friendship between the U.S. and the U.K. is a source of strength for both our peoples.” Adding, “I am proud the First Lady is representing the United States for this historic occasion.”

Congratulations to King Charles III and Queen Camilla on their Coronation. The enduring friendship between the U.S. and the U.K. is a source of strength for both our peoples.

I am proud the First Lady is representing the United States for this historic occasion.

— President Biden (@POTUS) May 6, 2023

https://twitter.com/DCelesteSpencer/status/1654853348275658756

It has been 247 years since the US declared its independence from the crown. During that time, no US president has ever attended the coronation of a British monarch. Delegations are usually sent in their stead.

During the decades after the American Revolution, it was impracticable for a sitting president to make the long voyage to Britain. Not until 1918 did a president cross the Atlantic Ocean during his term. That president was Woodrow Wilson.

When steamships became the norm in the early 20th century, “It quickly became a precedent to send an official delegation to coronations,” Arianne Chernock, a Boston University history professor who studies America’s relationship with the British monarchy, told the New York Post.

According to the media outlet, “Since George V became king in 1911, US presidents have dispatched carefully chosen delegations of representatives charged with pushing the administration’s agenda during the festivities.”

Headed to the U.K. for the Coronation of King Charles III – the first in 70 years!

It’s an honor to represent the United States for this historic moment and celebrate the special relationship between our countries. pic.twitter.com/V7sSq3HCOB

— Jill Biden (@FLOTUS) May 4, 2023

When George VI was crowned in 1937, President Franklin D. Roosevelt sent emissaries Gen. John J. Pershing and vocal Hitler opponent James Gerard in his place. They lobbied potential allies to join the close-at-hand fight against fascism.

In 1953, Dwight D. Eisenhower “put a lot of thought and months of planning into his delegation,” when Queen Elizabeth II was installed according to Chernock. The former Allied commander sent military heroes George Marshall and Omar Bradley to solidify ties forged in World War II. He also sent high-society publisher Fleur Cowles to speak for a rising generation of postwar career women.

By contrast, Biden sent no formal delegation at all, making it evident he is not familiar with how previous presidents actually handled such a historic event. Jill Biden only attended the coronation as a guest and has announced no agenda.

The British and former President Trump consider Biden’s non-attendance a disgrace.

🚨 Trump says he “was very surprised” Biden will not attend the Coronation, adding “I think it’s very disrespectful for him not to be here”.pic.twitter.com/wyEYgZGd04

— Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) May 3, 2023

Word has it the British press has turned against Biden over not coming and the public there are not impressed either.

“Certainly the British press, I think, have turned very strongly against Biden,” said Nile Gardiner, who served as an adviser to Britain’s transformative Conservative prime minister, according to Just the News. “There’s been a lot of condemnation in the U.K. of Biden’s decision not to attend. I would say he’s becoming a very unpopular president in the eyes of the British public. I think this is just the latest snub of America’s closest friend and ally.”

“This is not a snub,” Chernock countered. “But Joe Biden clearly hasn’t made it a high priority, as past presidents have done.”

“Is she simply there to pay her respects and engage in a bit of tourism?” she asked. “We’ll have to see.”

The 80-year-old commander-in-chief spoke with the British monarch by phone to let him know the first lady “looks forward to attending on behalf of the United States,” the administration announced in a statement.

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