Biden inauguration in pictures

Joe Biden has been sworn in as the 46th US President - here are some of the best photos from inauguration day.

President Biden set to work at the Oval Office having been sworn in earlier on Wednesday at the US Capitol. In his initial acts as the 46th US president, he signed 15 executive orders - the first to boost the federal response to the coronavirus crisis

A star-studded concert marked the beginning of Mr Biden's presidency, with performances from Foo Fighters, Katy Perry, Demi Lovato and Bon Jovi

Vice-President Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff attended the ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial

Speaking during the televised "Celebrating America" event, President Biden explained that he and Vice-President Kamala Harris "wanted to make sure our inauguration was not about us, but about you the American people"

The theme of the concert was not celebration but unity, with tributes paid to the frontline workers who have borne the brunt of the Covid pandemic

The president and first lady watched the fireworks show on the National Mall from the Truman Balcony at the White House

President Biden swore in presidential appointees during a virtual ceremony in the Oval Office

The President and First Lady Dr Jill Biden waved to supporters before entering The White House

Mr Biden's inauguration ceremony was restricted due to the coronavirus pandemic

Mr Biden took his oath on a Bible that has been in his family since 1893 and was also used each time he was sworn in as Delaware senator. The book itself is five inches (12.5cm) thick with a Celtic cross on the cover

Kamala Harris was sworn in as vice-president - the first woman and first black and Asian-American person to serve in this role

Barack Obama - the country's first black president - exchanged an inauguration day fist bump with Vice President Harris. The moment was celebrated online as a historic passing of the torch between the two political trailblazers

After his swearing-in, President Biden gave his inaugural speech, saying: "We learned again that democracy is precious. Democracy is fragile and at this moment, my friends, democracy has prevailed"

One inauguration performance that enthralled attendees and continues to captivate many across the world on social media was that of 22-year-old poet Amanda Gorman. She was the youngest poet to ever perform at a presidential inauguration, calling for "unity and togetherness" in her self-penned poem.

Lady Gaga led the musical contributions to President Biden's inauguration ceremony, with a bold rendition of the US National Anthem

Jennifer Lopez also sang a medley of This Land is Your Land and America the Beautiful - addressing the crowd in Spanish part way through her performance, declaring: "Una nación indivisible con libertad y justicia para todos" (One nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all)

The inauguration was unlike any other due to coronavirus restrictions, with few present to witness the oaths and ceremonies

The Bidens pictured as they arrived at the inauguration, on the West Front of the US Capitol

Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff waved to well-wishers when they arrived. Harris wore purple, a colour traditionally seen in the US as a symbol of bipartisanship - a combination of the blue and red of the Democratic and Republican parties

Former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama were among the guests at the inauguration

Former President Bill Clinton also arrived with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

Former President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush were shown to their seats before the swearing-in ceremony

Ex-President Donald Trump, who snubbed the inauguration ceremony, returned to his Mar-a-Lago golf club in Florida

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris went on to attend a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Members of the military march on 15th Street towards the White House during a Presidential Escort of the President's limousine to the White House

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, with their spouses, were seen looking out over the National Mall, which would normally be filled with supporters if not for the pandemic

The National Mall was covered in flags, representing the people who were not able to attend

Security across Washington was tight with about 25,000 troops on hand following a deadly riot at the Capitol earlier this month

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