A now-viral video shows the moment White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, was lost for words after learning of Queen Elizabeth II's death.
At the beginning of the 48-year-old's daily session with reporters, she announced that President Joe Biden had been briefed on the latest news regarding the late Queen’s health and would be "updated throughout the day" about her situation.
While answering a reporter's question on the Inflation Reduction Act on Thursday (September 8) afternoon, a journalist at the briefing notified her that the late Queen had died.
"OK, so that's been confirmed?" Jean-Pierre asked after a brief pause, asking for more reporters to confirm the news. She then said: "Our hearts and our thoughts go to the family members of the Queen, goes to the people of the United Kingdom."
Watch the moment below:The press secretary informed the journalists that she doesn't want to "get ahead" of what the 79-year-old president will say in regard to Her Majesty's death.
She then said that the United Kingdom is one of America's closest allies and said the two countries had a relationship that had "grown stronger and stronger" before ending the briefing immediately after.
An hour later, Biden and the first lady, Jill Biden, released a statement on their social media accounts expressing their "deepest condolences" to the British royal family.
"We send our deepest condolences to the Royal Family, who are not only mourning their Queen, but their dear mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother," the statement read. "Her legacy will loom large in the pages of British history, and in the story of our world."
The Bidens said they looked forward "to continuing a close friendship" with her son, now King Charles III, and his wife, Camilla, the Queen Consort, "in the years ahead".
"Her legacy will loom large in the pages of British history, and in the story of our world," they concluded. Out of "respect" for her memory and 70-year reign as the head of the British state, Biden ordered all US flags to be flown at half-staff at the White House.
The Bidens also stopped at the British Embassy in Washington, D.C., to offer their condolences to British Ambassador Karen Pierce and the employees there by signing a book.
"I mourn for all of you," President Biden said as he stood up from signing the condolence book, adding: "She was a great lady. We're so delighted we got to meet her."
Queen Elizabeth II met 13 sitting US presidents in her lifetime and met every US president since World War II - except for Lyndon B. Johnson.
On September 8, Buckingham Palace announced that Her Majesty "died peacefully" at her Balmoral estate in Scotland. At 96 years old, she was Britain's longest-reigning monarch.
With her death, her son Charles automatically ascended to the throne and is now known as King Charles III. He was officially proclaimed on Saturday (September 10) and vowed to follow in his mother's footsteps.
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