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Michelle Obama breaks royal protocol by giving the Queen a hug
Last updated at 11:02 AM on 02nd April 2009
America's First Lady Michelle Obama broke royal protocol during a reception at Buckingham Palace when she placed her arm around the Queen.
And as if confirming the 'special relationship' Britain has with the U.S., the Queen took the unusual step of returning the gesture by putting her arm round Mrs Obama's waist.
The extraordinary scenes took place yesterday as President Barack Obama made his first visit to Britain as U.S. President.
A break from protocol: Michelle Obama puts her arm around the Queen during a reception at Buckingham Palace
He and his wife both towered over the diminutive figure in pink.
But on his first meeting with the Queen, Barack Obama made it clear that he looks up to her.
Sources said he was as 'excited as a schoolboy' to meet the woman he has only ever seen 'on stamps and in documentaries'.
Enlarge
The First Families of England and America posed for photographs before enjoying a 20-minute chat over tea
The 6ft 1in President and Michelle Obama, who is almost as tall, presented the Queen with an iPod containing photographs and videos of her last state visit to the U.S. It is thought she already owns an MP3 player on which she listens to downloads of the Proms.
The two women clearly took to each other at the drinks reception afterwards as they chatted and laughed together. As the pair looked down, apparently talking about their shoes, the First Lady reciprocated for a few moments.
Normally, it is forbidden under royal protocol to touch the Queen.
Perhaps the Queen's warmth towards Mrs Obama was down to the gift of an engraved iPod that the First Lady presented to Her Majesty. Whether there was any music on the device is open to speculation, but the iPod did contain video footage of the Queen's 2007 visit to America.
More...
Yesterday's pow-wow at Buckingham Palace was also a break with tradition because visiting heads of state usually meet the monarch only if they are on a state visit.
Enlarge
Michelle Obama shakes hands with the Queen as they arrive at the Palace
Enlarge
First meeting: President Obama and his First Lady Michelle talk with Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace
Mrs Obama, 45, wore a black satin coat, with the same double string of white pearls she had worn for breakfast at Downing Street.
She looked sightly overawed at first but quickly put on a dazzling smile as her husband formally introduced her to Lady-in-Waiting Lady Airlie, who took them upstairs to the private apartments.
The Queen, accompanied by her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, had already held 'audiences' earlier in the day with the Prime Ministers of Australia and Canada.
Her introduction to Mr Obama was classed as a 'meeting' as he is a fellow head of state and therefore of equal standing.
By royal standards it was a rather informal 'getting to know you' session with no aides present - however, Mrs Obama did curtsey.
Enlarge
Queen Elizabeth II with all the delegates of the G20 London summit, posing in the lavish setting of the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace (click to enlarge)
The Queen laughed warmly as she ushered her visitors into position for an official photograph, while her smiling husband hovered behind them - clearly unsure whether or not he was surplus to requirements. True to form, the 87-year-old Duke managed to inject a little levity into the proceedings.
As they shook hands for the cameras, Prince Philip asked Mr Obama how he had managed to stay awake during his gruelling schedule, to which the President replied: 'I've had breakfast with the Prime Minister, meetings with the Chinese, the Russians, David Cameron, and I'm proud to say I didn't nod off.'
Who's who:
Back from left: Dominique Strauss-Kahn, managing director of the International Monetary Fund; Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations; Pascal Lamy, director-general of the World Trade Organisation; Abhisit Vejjajiva, chair of Asean and Prime Minister of Thailand; Silvio Berlusconi, Prime Minister of Italy; Taro Aso, Prime Minister of Japan; Mirek Topolanek, President of the European Council;Professor Mario Draghi, chairman of the Financial Stability Forum; Robert Zoellick, President of the World Bank
Middle from left: Kevin Rudd, Prime Minister of Australia; Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada; Dr Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany; Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Prime Minister of Spain; Dr Jan Peter Balkenende, Prime Minister of the Netherlands; Kgalema Motlanthe, President of South Africa; Barack Obama, President of the United States of America; Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister of Turkey; Dr Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India; Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission; Meles Zenawi, chair of Nepad and Prime Minister of Ethiopia.
Front from left: Lee Myung-bak, President of Korea; Nicolas Sarkozy, President of France; King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud GCB GCMG, of Saudi Arabia; Hu Jintao, President of China; Gordon Brown, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom; Queen Elizabeth II; Luiz Innacio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil; General TNI (Ret) Dr H Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President of Indonesia; Felipe Calderon Hinojosa, President of Mexico; Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, President of Argentina; Dmitry A Medvedev, President of Russia.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy gives a familiar greeting to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, with the Queen listening in
His response prompted the gaffe-prone prince to ask less than tactfully: 'Can you tell the difference between them?'
Once the cameras had gone, the foursome enjoyed what was described as a warm conversation, discussing everything from politics to the Obamas' children.
Prince Charles greets Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi as Camilla looks on
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon with Prince Charles and Camilla. Prince Charles hosted a meeting of world leaders on global climate and environmental challenges ahead of the G20
After the meeting, which lasted around 25 minutes, the First Couple were taken downstairs to meet Gordon and Sarah Brown who escorted them into a reception to welcome all the G20 leaders, including France's Nicolas Sarkozy.
Enlarge
Banquet: The menu at yesterday's Buckingham Palace reception
Most senior members of the Royal Family were also present, including the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, who was wheeled out of her sick bed after suffering a nasty bout of bronchitis.
As more guests arrived, President Obama's driver was asked to move his reinforced Cadillac limousine because it was blocking the garden entrance driveway at Buckingham Palace. After it was moved, Jaguars carrying Prince Charles and other members of the royal family pulled up for the Queen's reception.
Enlarge
Walkies: A royal employee out walking the Queen's corgis signals to President Obama's driver to move the reinforced Cadillac which is blocking the garden entrance
Last updated at 11:02 AM on 02nd April 2009
America's First Lady Michelle Obama broke royal protocol during a reception at Buckingham Palace when she placed her arm around the Queen.
And as if confirming the 'special relationship' Britain has with the U.S., the Queen took the unusual step of returning the gesture by putting her arm round Mrs Obama's waist.
The extraordinary scenes took place yesterday as President Barack Obama made his first visit to Britain as U.S. President.
A break from protocol: Michelle Obama puts her arm around the Queen during a reception at Buckingham Palace
He and his wife both towered over the diminutive figure in pink.
But on his first meeting with the Queen, Barack Obama made it clear that he looks up to her.
Sources said he was as 'excited as a schoolboy' to meet the woman he has only ever seen 'on stamps and in documentaries'.
Enlarge
The First Families of England and America posed for photographs before enjoying a 20-minute chat over tea
The 6ft 1in President and Michelle Obama, who is almost as tall, presented the Queen with an iPod containing photographs and videos of her last state visit to the U.S. It is thought she already owns an MP3 player on which she listens to downloads of the Proms.
The two women clearly took to each other at the drinks reception afterwards as they chatted and laughed together. As the pair looked down, apparently talking about their shoes, the First Lady reciprocated for a few moments.
Normally, it is forbidden under royal protocol to touch the Queen.
Perhaps the Queen's warmth towards Mrs Obama was down to the gift of an engraved iPod that the First Lady presented to Her Majesty. Whether there was any music on the device is open to speculation, but the iPod did contain video footage of the Queen's 2007 visit to America.
More...
- Protesters storm RBS office as thousands of anti-capitalists ransack the City in G20 riot
- Our special 'affinity and kinship': Gushing Obama makes up for Washington snub at breakfast with Brown
- QUENTIN LETTS: Obama told a joke and Brown laughed... and laughed... and laughed... and laughed
Yesterday's pow-wow at Buckingham Palace was also a break with tradition because visiting heads of state usually meet the monarch only if they are on a state visit.
Enlarge
Michelle Obama shakes hands with the Queen as they arrive at the Palace
Enlarge
First meeting: President Obama and his First Lady Michelle talk with Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace
Mrs Obama, 45, wore a black satin coat, with the same double string of white pearls she had worn for breakfast at Downing Street.
She looked sightly overawed at first but quickly put on a dazzling smile as her husband formally introduced her to Lady-in-Waiting Lady Airlie, who took them upstairs to the private apartments.
The Queen, accompanied by her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, had already held 'audiences' earlier in the day with the Prime Ministers of Australia and Canada.
Her introduction to Mr Obama was classed as a 'meeting' as he is a fellow head of state and therefore of equal standing.
By royal standards it was a rather informal 'getting to know you' session with no aides present - however, Mrs Obama did curtsey.
Enlarge
Queen Elizabeth II with all the delegates of the G20 London summit, posing in the lavish setting of the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace (click to enlarge)
The Queen laughed warmly as she ushered her visitors into position for an official photograph, while her smiling husband hovered behind them - clearly unsure whether or not he was surplus to requirements. True to form, the 87-year-old Duke managed to inject a little levity into the proceedings.
As they shook hands for the cameras, Prince Philip asked Mr Obama how he had managed to stay awake during his gruelling schedule, to which the President replied: 'I've had breakfast with the Prime Minister, meetings with the Chinese, the Russians, David Cameron, and I'm proud to say I didn't nod off.'
Who's who:
Back from left: Dominique Strauss-Kahn, managing director of the International Monetary Fund; Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations; Pascal Lamy, director-general of the World Trade Organisation; Abhisit Vejjajiva, chair of Asean and Prime Minister of Thailand; Silvio Berlusconi, Prime Minister of Italy; Taro Aso, Prime Minister of Japan; Mirek Topolanek, President of the European Council;Professor Mario Draghi, chairman of the Financial Stability Forum; Robert Zoellick, President of the World Bank
Middle from left: Kevin Rudd, Prime Minister of Australia; Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada; Dr Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany; Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Prime Minister of Spain; Dr Jan Peter Balkenende, Prime Minister of the Netherlands; Kgalema Motlanthe, President of South Africa; Barack Obama, President of the United States of America; Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister of Turkey; Dr Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India; Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission; Meles Zenawi, chair of Nepad and Prime Minister of Ethiopia.
Front from left: Lee Myung-bak, President of Korea; Nicolas Sarkozy, President of France; King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud GCB GCMG, of Saudi Arabia; Hu Jintao, President of China; Gordon Brown, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom; Queen Elizabeth II; Luiz Innacio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil; General TNI (Ret) Dr H Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President of Indonesia; Felipe Calderon Hinojosa, President of Mexico; Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, President of Argentina; Dmitry A Medvedev, President of Russia.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy gives a familiar greeting to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, with the Queen listening in
His response prompted the gaffe-prone prince to ask less than tactfully: 'Can you tell the difference between them?'
Once the cameras had gone, the foursome enjoyed what was described as a warm conversation, discussing everything from politics to the Obamas' children.
Prince Charles greets Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi as Camilla looks on
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon with Prince Charles and Camilla. Prince Charles hosted a meeting of world leaders on global climate and environmental challenges ahead of the G20
After the meeting, which lasted around 25 minutes, the First Couple were taken downstairs to meet Gordon and Sarah Brown who escorted them into a reception to welcome all the G20 leaders, including France's Nicolas Sarkozy.
Enlarge
Banquet: The menu at yesterday's Buckingham Palace reception
Most senior members of the Royal Family were also present, including the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, who was wheeled out of her sick bed after suffering a nasty bout of bronchitis.
As more guests arrived, President Obama's driver was asked to move his reinforced Cadillac limousine because it was blocking the garden entrance driveway at Buckingham Palace. After it was moved, Jaguars carrying Prince Charles and other members of the royal family pulled up for the Queen's reception.
Enlarge
Walkies: A royal employee out walking the Queen's corgis signals to President Obama's driver to move the reinforced Cadillac which is blocking the garden entrance
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