It's that iconic G7 image we've all been waiting for - the world's leaders standing together to mark the start of the 2021 summit.

Sadly the Cornish weather did not play along, with the cloud refusing to budge to show off the normally glistening water of Carbis Bay at its best.

It has led to some locals suggesting it was a shame the official photograph couldn't have waited until Saturday, when glorious sunshine is forecast.

One Twitter user even said: "Could have waited until tomorrow when the sun will be out and will show Cornwall off. The turquoise water is a sight to be seen. St Ives is beautiful but with the sun it is amazing."

Of course the leaders have an important schedule ahead of them discussing key topics on the agenda. As the presidency holder, the UK is directing that agenda for the G7 in 2021.

This year it will be concentrating on the global recovery from coronavirus and strengthening the world’s resilience against future pandemics, as well as promoting future prosperity by championing free and fair trade, and tackling climate change, preserving the planet’s biodiversity.

The Press Association has reported that on the first day of the summit in Cornwall Boris Johnson has said the G7 must learn from the mistakes of the pandemic, as he predicted the leading economies would “bounce back” from the Covid-19 recession.

The Prime Minister said the group of leading democracies should also avoid the errors that followed the 2008 financial crash and ensure the recovery helped all parts of society.

The G7 nations will promise a billion doses of Covid-19 vaccine to help poorer countries tackle the pandemic, with Mr Johnson promising at least 100 million surplus doses from the UK over the coming year.

The leaders were met by the Prime Minister and Carrie Johnson as they arrived at the summit in Carbis Bay, Cornwall, and posed for a “family photograph” ahead of their discussions.

Falmouth Packet:

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Carrie Johnson arrive for the leaders’ official welcome and family photo during the G7 summit in Cornwall Picture: Leon Neal/PA

It is the first face-to-face meeting for the group in almost two years as a result of what Mr Johnson called the “most wretched pandemic”.

The Prime Minister said: “We need to make sure that we learn the lessons from the pandemic, we need to make sure that we don’t repeat some of the errors that we doubtless made in the course of the last 18 months or so.”

He said the G7 economies, the UK, US, Canada, Japan, France, Germany and Italy, had the potential to “bounce back very strongly” from the pandemic.

“But it is vital that we don’t repeat the mistake of the last great crisis, the last great economic recession of 2008, when the recovery was not uniform across all parts of society."

There was a risk the pandemic could leave a “lasting scar” as “inequalities may be entrenched”, Mr Johnson said.

The opening of the summit saw the politicians arrive on the beach at Carbis Bay before the leaders of the UK, US, Canada, Japan, France, Germany, Italy and the EU gathered together for the customary group photo.

Falmouth Packet:

All eyes are on Boris Johnson in this photo from the Press Assocation

With the focus on avoiding the spread of coronavirus, Mr and Mrs Johnson bumped elbows with the visiting leaders in place of the pre-pandemic handshakes.

The seaside location led Mrs Biden to joke “I feel like we are at a wedding”. while the newlywed Mr Johnson said it was like “walking down the aisle”.

President Biden urged the watching media to go swimming, quipping “everyone in the water”.

Following the group photo, the French president, Emmanuel Macron, was seen in deep conversation with Mr Biden.

Mr Johnson had a diplomatic triumph on Thursday when he met Mr Biden for the US President’s first overseas talks.

But German Chancellor Angela Merkel will travel to Washington next month, beating Mr Johnson to the White House.

Over the coming days, Mr Johnson will have talks with Mrs Merkel and other key EU players, including Mr Macron and the European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, as efforts continue to resolve the dispute over Northern Ireland’s post-Brexit arrangements.

A “sausage war” trade dispute looms if the UK unilaterally delays imposing a ban on British-made chilled meats heading to Northern Ireland which is due to come into force at the end of the month.

The pledge on vaccines comes with the leaders under pressure to do more to share the burden of protecting the world from the virus.

Under the Prime Minister’s plan, the UK will provide five million doses by the end of September, with 25 million more by the end of 2021 and the rest in 2022.

But he resisted calls from campaigners to take further action, including waiving patents on vaccines, insisting that the deal to supply Oxford/AstraZeneca jabs at cost price and the UK’s funding for the Covax initiative to provide doses around the world showed Britain was doing its share.