MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. returned to the country on Sunday from his brief trip to the United Kingdom for the coronation of King Charles III and his official visit to the United States where he met with US President Joe Biden.

"It feels good to be back home!" First Lady Liza Marcos, who traveled with the president, said in an instagram post on Monday, showing a photo of her husband timestamped 11:05 p.m. of May 7, 2023.

A Palace official also confirmed to ABS-CBN News that the President had returned to the Philippines "late evening" on Sunday, with no arrival honors held.

A few hours after his arrival, Marcos congratulated King Charles III and Queen Camilla on their coronation over the weekend in London.

"It was as grand and magnificent a ceremony as could have been, full of symbolism and weighted by history. It was a great honor for me to represent the Philippines on such a historic occasion," he said in a statement.

"A day before the Coronation of King Charles III, we were able to speak with His Majesty at the reception, where we sent him the congratulations of all Filipinos. He asked after his friend, my mother, former First Lady Imelda Marcos, and recounted fond memories of the time they shared together," Marcos added.

• Marcos meets King Charles in London ahead of coronation

"Filipinos wish His Majesty King Charles III a long and happy reign. May his Coronation signify the start of a new chapter of peace, progress, and prosperity for the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth," he also said.

Marcos was among the 2,200 guests invited to King Charles’ coronation.

• Charles III crowned king at first UK coronation in 70 years

Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom Teddy Locsin Jr. earlier said King Charles and Marcos used to play polo before the monarch acceded to the British throne last year after the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II.

Marcos will leave for Indonesia on May 9 to the attend the annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The regional meeting is expected to tackle the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, among others.

• Myanmar crisis to dominate ASEAN leaders summit

Marcos left the Philippines last April 30 for a five-day official visit to Washington, DC, during which he also met with US Vice President Kamala Harris, other US officials and some business leaders, aside from Biden.

The visit marked the first time in more than a decade that a Philippine president set foot on the American capital, and was seen as an attempt to rekindle US-Philippines relations strained during the administration of Marcos' predecessor, former President Rodrigo Duterte.

• Biden says he could not think of better partner for the US than the Philippines
• Biden says US to send presidential trade mission to Philippines

Marcos then headed to London to witness the coronation of King Charles III on Saturday, the first time a UK monarch was officially crowned in more than 70 years.

— with report from Joyce Balancio, ABS-CBN News

RELATED VIDEO:

Watch more News on iWantTFC