The Democratic presidential nominee revealed his son’s saying at the Invictus Games with Prince Harry. He said his son used to say “never complain and never explain”. This phrase, first coined by former Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli in the late 1800s, was later taken on by the Queen Mother as a rule of thumb for the Royal Family.
The motto, which has been fastidiously stuck to by Queen Elizabeth II during her six-decade reign, describes the royals’ approach to maintaining their reputation by not commenting on any scandals or accusations that come their way.
In other words, it is a way of dismissing claims with your silence, rather than getting defensive.
However, it has also been used by high ranking political and military officials over the years ‒ and indeed, Mr Biden’s son.
Mr Biden said in 2016: “We’re a military family. Our son, Beau, was a major. He used to have a saying and he lived it.
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Joe Biden’s son has an unusual link to the Royal Family (Image: GETTY)
Joe Biden and his son Beau, who was in the US military (Image: GETTY)
“He’d say, ‘Never complain and never explain’ and he lived it.”
Ironically, it is this attitude that Harry and Meghan seemed to take issue with, according to court filings in Meghan’s lawsuit against Associated Newspapers.
The Duchess claimed through her lawyers that she felt “silenced” by royal protocol that dictated that she should not respond to any allegations made about her, and that her friends should also say “no comment” if asked.
The Invictus Games is a Paralympic-style multi-sport event in which injured or sick military personnel and veterans compete in sports like wheelchair basketball.
Beau Biden (Image: GETTY)
It was founded by Prince Harry, who still runs it and plans to hold the next one in the Netherlands in late May or early June next year.
Mr Biden, who is the former Vice President, has been a supporter of the Invictus Games, along with his wife Jill, since its inception.
He has appeared at multiple events with Jill, and with Barack and Michelle Obama.
After serving as Vice President under Barack Obama between 2009 and 2017, Mr Biden is now running as the Democratic nominee in the upcoming US presidential election.
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Joe Biden with Prince Harry at the Invictus Games in 2016 (Image: GETTY)
He will go head to head with Donald Trump, and seems to be edging ahead in the polls, amid the coronavirus crisis and Black Lives Matter protests.
It is believed that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle ‒ who now live in Santa Barbara, California ‒ are supporting him.
Meghan has previously been outspoken against President Trump, calling him “misogynistic” and “divisive” in 2016.
Mr Trump branded the Duchess “nasty” after being confronted with these comments last year.
She has also encouraged people to vote this year, especially women and young people.
Meghan said in a video from her home: “When I think about voting and why this is so exceptionally important for all of us, I would frame it as: We vote to honour those who came before us and to protect those who come after us.
“That’s what community is about and that is specially what this election is all about.”
However, the Sussexes’ connection to Mr Biden goes further than just an opposition to Mr Trump.
Mr Biden’s wife went to the first ever Invictus Games in 2014, and the Vice President joked at the time that he was “worried” about how his wife was seen “on [Harry’s] arm”.
The Bidens and Obamas continued having a close connection to the Games, with the First Lady and Second Lady launching the second Invictus Games in october 2015 at Fort Belvoir.
The Games were later held in Orlando, Florida in 2016, which Mr and Dr Biden both attended, and were pictured watching wheelchair rugby with Harry.
Joe and Jill Biden with Prince Harry at the Invictus Games in 2017 (Image: GETTY)
Mr Biden was welcomed with thunderous cheers and joked with the audience: “Jill went to London for the last Games and spent too much damn time with prince Harry.”
The Bidens also went to the Invictus Games in 2017 in Toronto and joined Harry to watch the wheelchair basketball finals, smiling and cheering in the stands.
This was the Games where Meghan Markle, Harry’s now-wife, made her first appearance with him, as Tornoto was where she lived to film her TV show Suits.
