Obamas meet queen at the palace
Source: Agencies |
May 25, 2011, Wednesday
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US President Barack Obama and wife Michelle were welcomed to Buckingham Palace in grand royal style yesterday by Queen Elizabeth II as they began their official state visit to Britain, a rare honor for a US president.
The queen and her husband Prince Philip greeted the Obamas on a sunny, windy afternoon in London. Following a private tour of the palace, the two couples emerged on the ceremonial steps of the West Terrace for a 41-gun salute.
The queen, dressed in a powder blue suit and matching hat, stood with the president, as ranks of Scots Guards in red jackets and tall hats played the Star-Spangled Banner in honor of the American president and his wife. A longer 62-gun salute at the Tower of London could be heard throughout the city, heralding the Obamas' arrival.
The Obamas will spend two nights at the palace as guests of the queen, staying in a six-room suite last used by Prince William and Kate Middleton on their wedding night.
The newlyweds, now known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, had a brief, private meeting with the Obamas yesterday before the palace arrival ceremony, but did not attend a lavish banquet held for the Obamas last night.
The queen held a private lunch for the Obamas at the palace, and was then to give them a tour of her private picture gallery.
The queen picked out pieces from her collection that she thought might interest the Obamas, including items from the president's home state of Hawaii and an exhibit about Abraham Lincoln, the former US president Obama greatly admires.
The president and first lady began the day greeted by Prince Charles and his wife Camilla at Winfield House, the stately mansion in Regent's Park that is the residence of the US ambassador.
The Obamas stayed there on Monday night after leaving Ireland early instead of spending the night in Dublin because of safety concerns over a volcanic ash cloud being blown toward Britain from Iceland.
There was no avoiding domestic issues, either. From Europe Obama was monitoring fallout from the massive tornado that struck Missouri, and before meeting the queen yesterday he announced plans to tour the damage on Sunday after he returns to the states.
Obama will tackle prickly foreign policy matters when he meets British Prime Minister David Cameron today.
The queen and her husband Prince Philip greeted the Obamas on a sunny, windy afternoon in London. Following a private tour of the palace, the two couples emerged on the ceremonial steps of the West Terrace for a 41-gun salute.
The queen, dressed in a powder blue suit and matching hat, stood with the president, as ranks of Scots Guards in red jackets and tall hats played the Star-Spangled Banner in honor of the American president and his wife. A longer 62-gun salute at the Tower of London could be heard throughout the city, heralding the Obamas' arrival.
The Obamas will spend two nights at the palace as guests of the queen, staying in a six-room suite last used by Prince William and Kate Middleton on their wedding night.
The newlyweds, now known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, had a brief, private meeting with the Obamas yesterday before the palace arrival ceremony, but did not attend a lavish banquet held for the Obamas last night.
The queen held a private lunch for the Obamas at the palace, and was then to give them a tour of her private picture gallery.
The queen picked out pieces from her collection that she thought might interest the Obamas, including items from the president's home state of Hawaii and an exhibit about Abraham Lincoln, the former US president Obama greatly admires.
The president and first lady began the day greeted by Prince Charles and his wife Camilla at Winfield House, the stately mansion in Regent's Park that is the residence of the US ambassador.
The Obamas stayed there on Monday night after leaving Ireland early instead of spending the night in Dublin because of safety concerns over a volcanic ash cloud being blown toward Britain from Iceland.
There was no avoiding domestic issues, either. From Europe Obama was monitoring fallout from the massive tornado that struck Missouri, and before meeting the queen yesterday he announced plans to tour the damage on Sunday after he returns to the states.
Obama will tackle prickly foreign policy matters when he meets British Prime Minister David Cameron today.
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