U.S. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden pose with Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie Johnson as they arrive for the G7 summit in Carbis Bay, Cornwall.
PHIL NOBLE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
PHIL NOBLE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
For the first time since the pandemic halted face-to-face events, leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States have gathered for three days of talks in a British sea-side town to try to address some of the world’s most pressing issues.
Stopping the coronavirus pandemic will be front and center in the talks. But summits like the G-7 also provide a window into the dynamics between the world leaders beyond their statements and press conferences.
Take, for instance, the unforgettable images of former President Donald Trump white-knuckling leaders with handshakes and pushing aside the prime minister of Montenegro in an apparent attempt to get to the front of a photo-op.
Here’s a look at some of the moments you may have missed on Day 1.
Most important meal of the day
“Multilateralism is back @G7” tweeted Charles Michel, President of the European Council, alongside a photo of several leaders gathered together for what appeared to be breakfast ahead of the day’s talks. French President Emmanuel Macron also shared a photo of the gathering via Twitter.
“The EU wants to make sure the world is vaccinated as quickly as possible. Only together can we do this by upholding our values,” Michel wrote and included the hashtag “BuildBackBetter”, the phrase Biden campaigned with to describe his agenda to “rescue, recover and rebuild” the U.S.
Multilateralism is back at @G7
The EU wants to make sure the world is vaccinated as quickly as possible.
Only together can we do this by upholding our values. #BuildBackBetter pic.twitter.com/GK7219CHcn
— Charles Michel (@eucopresident) June 11, 2021
On Thursday, Biden announced the U.S. will donate 500 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine to nearly 100 countries struggling to afford them. G-7 leaders are expected to announce on Day 1 of the talks a commitment to share 1 billion of their COVID-19 vaccine resources with lower income countries.
Handshakes out, elbow greetings in
Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau greets Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie Johnson as he arrives for the summit.
PHIL NOBLE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
PHIL NOBLE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
At the start of the summit on Friday, the world leaders and their spouses walked up a pier one at a time to get a photo with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie.
Exaggerated elbow bumps as a safety measure replaced the traditional handshakes between leaders.
“Everybody in the water,” quipped Biden to the pool of photographers.
Family photo
The seven leaders gather for the traditional group photo ahead of the day’s talks.
LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP via Getty Images
LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP via Getty Images
As is customary, the leaders gathered for an official photo before the start of the talks.
Harry and Meghan’s newborn gets a mention
Britain’s Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and U.S. First Lady Jill Biden visit Connor Downs Academy in Hayle, Cornwall on the sidelines of the G7 summit on June 11, 2021.
DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP via Getty Images
DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP via Getty Images
On Friday, the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton and First Lady Jill Biden toured a classroom at Connor Downs Academy and held a roundtable on early childhood education.
That itself provided an awkward moment.
Reporters traveling with Biden asked Middleton if she had any wishes for her new niece, Lilibeth Diana, the newborn daughter of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who have stepped back from the British royal family in a very public way.
The baby was named in honor of the Duke’s late mother, Princess Diana of Wales, and Queen Elizabeth. The name sparked some controversy, with questions of whether the Queen had given her blessing for the use of her childhood nickname.
“I wish her all the very best. I can’t wait to meet her,” Middleton said. “We haven’t met her yet. I hope that will be soon.”
She was asked whether she had FaceTimed with her new niece. “No, I haven’t,” she said.
