G7 Summit takeaways: The US is back on top, the Queen cut a cake with a sword, and world leaders promised 1 billion COVID-19 doses

The seven world leaders — German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, and US President Joe Biden — met on a seaside resort in Cornwall, England.

It was the first time the heads of these countries met in person since the pandemic shut down travel more than a year ago. The G7 leaders last met in person in France in August 2019, nearly two years ago.

In addition to the seven countries normally present, others like South Africa, South Korea, India, and Australia received invitations to attend virtually the 47th Summit.

Johnson announced that the leaders would together donate at least 1 billion vaccine doses against the coronavirus to lower-income countries over the next year in a coordinated effort to end the pandemic in 2022.

"Our international priority is to accelerate the rollout of safe and effective, accessible and affordable vaccines for the poorest countries, noting the role of extensive immunization as a global public good," the leaders said in a statement published on Sunday.

They promised to also help countries around the world develop technology that can manufacture and disseminate vaccines quicker.

When asked about the expected timeline to end the pandemic on a global scale, Biden said "it might take slightly longer" than 2022.

Macron on Saturday signaled his confidence in the United States as an ally with Biden at the nation's helm. When asked by reporters whether he thinks "America is back," Biden gestured to Macron to answer the question.

"Yes, definitely," Macron said. "It's great to have a US president who's part of the club and very willing to cooperate. What you demonstrate is that leadership is partnership."

Biden indicated his agreement. "The United States, I've said before, we're back," the US president said. "Things are going, I think, well, and we're, as we say back in the States, we're on the same page."

Johnson on Thursday hailed Biden as "a big breath of fresh air."

The Queen of England borrowed a ceremonial sword to cut a cake on Friday.

An aide informed her that there was a standard knife available to cut the cake. But the Queen insisted she use the sword.

"I know there is," she told the aide. "This is more unusual."

After the first slice using the sword, she then cut the rest of the cake with a regular knife.

The world leaders presented a united front against Russia and China, vowing to condemn human-rights abuses and political tactics that stray from their economic and international visions.

Biden, for example, rebuked China for human-rights abuses. "I think China has to start to act more responsibly in terms of international norms on human rights and transparency," he said. "Transparency matters across the board."

In a press briefing, a senior US administration official said the six other leaders maintain "a very strong and shared foundation" in their approach to China. The seven leaders also promised to investigate the origins of the coronavirus pandemic.

Later, China clapped back, saying "the days when global decisions were dictated by a small group of countries are long gone."

On Russia, Biden said US relations with Moscow have reached a "low point."

"Russia has engaged in activities which we believe are contrary to international norms, but they have also bitten off some real problems they're going to have trouble chewing on," Biden said.

Aside from the coronavirus, G7 leaders focused on advancing climate change measures.

Among them is a proposal to phase out gasoline and diesel cars. The leaders vowed to end "almost all direct government support" for fossil fuels and halt "all unabated coal as soon as possible."

In an effort to extend this proposal beyond the G7, world leaders agreed to allocate $2 billion to help developing countries to seek out other options besides coal, a statement from the White House said.

Despite the heavy focus away from fossil fuels, world leaders, including Biden, did not set a concrete date for the end of coal use, which contributes directly to global warming.

Biden and Queen Elizabeth II met on Friday, marking his first time engaging with the Queen in person as president. The Queen has met every president since Harry S. Truman, with the exception of Lyndon B. Johnson.

At the end of the Summit on Sunday, Biden and first lady Jill had tea with the Queen at Windsor Castle.

Biden met the Queen for the first time as a US senator in the 1980s.