Jill Biden will meet with Kate Middleton in England this week
Biden and Middleton will focus on children and education during their first-ever meeting on Friday, a White House official told CNN. The two women will participate in a roundtable about early childhood education and tour a school in Hayle, Cornwall.
Middleton, with her husband the Duke of Cambridge, Prince William, has taken a larger public-facing role in recent years in the United Kingdom, championing causes including mental health, the overall well-being of children, the importance of sports and visual arts, as well as the importance of getting the Covid-19 vaccine. Middleton posted a photo of herself on her social media accounts receiving her first dose on May 29.
Biden has also taken several recent trips to various parts of the United States encouraging people to get vaccinated. The meeting in England between Biden and Middleton has been in the works for the last couple of weeks, a White House official tells CNN.
In a statement to CNN, the East Wing notes in addition to acting in a supporting role to the President, Jill Biden’s first trip abroad as first lady includes several solo events, such as the one with Middleton.
“The First Lady has an independent schedule of her own during the G7,” said Jill Biden’s press secretary Michael LaRosa. “At Royal Air Force Base Mildenhall on Wednesday, she spoke about the importance of supporting military families. She also hosted a roundtable with United States military spouses who are focused on the wellbeing and emotional health of service members and their families.”
The events and discussion are working in concert with one of Biden’s initiatives, Joining Forces, which supports military families. With Middleton, Biden is expected to again highlight the military, as well as the alliance between America and the United Kingdom, says the White House official.
CNN’s Max Foster and Kate Sullivan contributed to this report.