The US President was welcomed to Buckingham Palace · 2009-04-03 17:19
Barack Obama and his wife were welcomed to Buckingham Palace by the Queen and Prince Philip.
The 11th US President admitted to feeling "as excited as a school boy" as the First Couple were invited into the British monarch’s private quarters for tea.
"There’s one thing I should mention I love about Great Britain. And that’s the Queen. I am looking forward to meeting her for the first time," the US leader said.
As a present Barak Obama, 47, gave the Queen a personalised iPod packed with photos and a video of her 2007 state visit to America. And in return the 82-year-old royal and her husband gave their visitors a signed photograph of themselves in a silver frame.
After the informal meeting the foursome moved on to a champagne reception with a string of world leaders and dignitaries in the Palace’s picture gallery.
Normally rules state it is forbidden to touch the Queen, but when Mrs Obama put her arm around the Queen, she didn’t seem to mind and reciprocated the gesture for a few moments.
Others present at the reception included British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and French President Nicholas Sarkozy. Other royals on hand included Prince Charles and his niece Princess Beatrice, HELLO! reports.
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