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April 1, 2009 1:19 PM

The President Meets The Queen

Posted by Brian Montopoli
(AP Photo/John Stillwell)
UPDATED President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama met today with Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip at Buckingham Palace in London.

"It was a wonderful visit," Obama told reporters as he left the palace, according to the Associated Press. "Her majesty is delightful."

(AP Photo/John Stillwell)
Earlier in the day, the president praised the queen as a model of "decency and civility."

During the private meeting over tea, which lasted about 25 minutes, the president gave the queen an iPod as a gift; it contained footage of her visit to Washington and Virginia in 2007, According to Time. She was also presented with a songbook signed by composer Richard Rodgers.

The queen, meanwhile, gave the president "a silver framed photo of herself and her husband, as she does all visiting dignitaries."

Here's some (sound-free) video of the meeting:



The AP reports that the queen's handlers had to ask Mr. Obama's driver to move the president's bulletproof limousine, which was blocking an entrance to the palace. After it was moved, dignitaries including Prince Charles entered the grounds for the reception the 82-year-old queen hosted immediately after the meeting in honor of Mr. Obama and other leaders attending the G20 summit.


View Photos
Photo Essay: The president's first full day in London. (AP)

In attendance at the reception were French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, among others, who were served wine and hors d'oeuvres, including foie gras and smoked quail eggs.

Elizabeth II has now met with all 12 U.S. presidents that have served during her time as Queen with the exception of Lyndon Johnson. (Read more on the Queen's presidential meetings.)

As President Obama entered Buckingham Palace, hundreds of onlookers gathered outside cheered and waved at the presidential limousine.
Tags:
queen ,
obama ,
buckingham palace
Topics:
Obama's Trip To Europe
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Add a Comment See all 34 Comments
by yorkshireguy April 2, 2009 6:43 PM EDT
The American people should be immensely proud of their President and the First Lady. Politics aside, their good manners, intelligent comment, articulate argument, style and charisma are an example to us all. It has been moving and inspirational in equal measure seeing The President and First Lady here in Britain and has once again made many of us remember what a great people the Americans are. You have many friends here in Britain - and Ipod or DVD's aside - we are proud to call you our "friends" and wish you and yours only health, happiness and prosperity.
Reply to this comment
by impeachbhb April 2, 2009 11:25 AM EDT
The queen has been graced by a visit from the Messiah.
Reply to this comment
by briannorwood April 2, 2009 9:11 AM EDT
Barak and Michelle are like a breath of fresh air. Smart, classy and, in a way, hip.

Quite a contrast from the Bumbler and his Stepford Wife of the last eight years.
Reply to this comment
by nolies74621 April 2, 2009 3:21 AM EDT
Talk about lipstick on a pig.
Posted by _____One_American_____ at 1:16 PM : Apr 1, 2009


this is your brain,

this is your brain on CONSERVATISM!
Posted by mattcat25 at 2:18 PM : Apr 1, 2009

What does stating your opinion that someone is ugly have anything to do with conservative. I thought George HW Bushs wife looked like the picture of the guy on the Quaker Oats box and I think Michelle Obama has room for improvement in the looks department, Since I bagged on Bushs wife am I know considered a liberal? Will you take me into your liberal circle and annoint me with liberal wisdom?
Reply to this comment
by nolies74621 April 2, 2009 3:09 AM EDT
Wow a personalized IPOD. CLASSY!!!! He manages to insult our greatest allie again. Did it come with a fourty ounce and a pack of cigarettes? Where is my $1.01 tax on those cigs Queenie?
Reply to this comment
by budmag06 April 2, 2009 2:28 AM EDT
Obama doesn't consider Britain as our best ally. I believe the Queen needs another Ipod. Doesn't the Queen have enough money to buy one?
Reply to this comment
by _CBS_is_Pravda_ April 2, 2009 1:10 AM EDT
Obama is quite obviously severing ties with Great Britain.

His not-too-subtle insults, including returning the bust of Winston Churchil from the Oval Office, the Hollywood DVDs that don't play in European players that he gave to PM Gordon Brown, and now giving Queen Elizabeth an IPod.

Obama supporters like to play make-believe that Obama is "restoring" America in the eyes of the world - when in fact, he is destroying the relationships and rapidly making enemies of very long-time allies.

Just watch some of our allies vote against the U.S. in critical United Nations votes in the near future - then you'll know.
Reply to this comment
by JoeBoo2 April 2, 2009 1:08 AM EDT
President and Mrs. Bush have class. . . . .. The Obamas are black trash ~ ~ Posted by Jane1620

No, Jane, the Bush's are rich white trailer trash.
The Obamas are a sofisticated couple, and ARE OUR First family. Racism is ugly.
~ Posted by gravyboat63

~ To 'gravyboat':
YES, RACISM IS UGLY. AND IT IS EQUALLY UGLY FROM BOTH DIRECTIONS!!
Reply to this comment
by JoeBoo2 April 2, 2009 12:58 AM EDT
President and Mrs. Bush have class. . . . .. The Obamas are black trash ~ ~ Posted by Jane1620

No, Jane, the Bush's are rich white trailer trash.
The Obamas are a sofisticated couple, and ARE OUR First family. Racism is ugly.
Posted by gravyboat63 at 7:31 PM

~ To 'gravyboat':
Yes, racism is ugly. And it's ugly from both directions!!
Reply to this comment
by dsw214 April 2, 2009 12:45 AM EDT
Regardless of race, the Obamas have displayed a complete lack of class. As an American, I am embarassed.
Reply to this comment
by Rsk87 April 1, 2009 9:02 PM EDT
Is it an Ipod touch?
Reply to this comment
by KMann2 April 1, 2009 5:21 PM EDT
Endeavor 2009 - I take your point and raise you one. I have many good friends who are both American and sophisticated. I just found myself miffed on behalf of Her Majesty. I am sure she would never bother to read the sort of trash that we have heard from the bored and spelling challenged this afternoon!

In pacem, a Canadian friend who loves the USA
Reply to this comment
by mattcat25 April 1, 2009 5:18 PM EDT
All those expensive dresses - and Michelle Obama is still the ugliest first lady since Elanore Roosevelt.

Talk about lipstick on a pig.
Posted by _____One_American_____ at 1:16 PM : Apr 1, 2009

All those expensive dresses - and Michelle Obama is still the ugliest first lady since Elanore Roosevelt.

Talk about lipstick on a pig.
Posted by _____One_American_____ at 1:16 PM : Apr 1, 2009

All those expensive dresses - and Michelle Obama is still the ugliest first lady since Elanore Roosevelt.

Talk about lipstick on a pig.
Posted by _____One_American_____ at 1:16 PM : Apr 1, 2009

All those expensive dresses - and Michelle Obama is still the ugliest first lady since Elanore Roosevelt.

Talk about lipstick on a pig.
Posted by _____One_American_____ at 1:16 PM : Apr 1, 2009


this is your brain,

this is your brain on CONSERVATISM!
Reply to this comment
by ducdebrabant April 1, 2009 4:41 PM EDT
People have really got to shut up about the Ipod. It wasn't simply an Ipod, it was loaded with video of her trips to the United States. Although she does already have one, the one she bought (that we know about) is already four years old. Lastly, it wasn't the only gift. She was also presented with a rare music album autographed by Richard Rodgers. Why Richard Rodgers? I'll pause for you all to say stupid, snarky things.

[PAUSE}

Are you finished? The Queen has a sentimental connection to the music of Richard Rodgers, via the musical "Oklahoma." Reportedly, when she and Prince Philip were courting they used to use the song "People Will Say We're in Love" as a personal signal to one another, humming it when there were others around.

What did she give him? A framed picture of herself and the Prince Consort. That's nice, but it's not exactly a desk made from the timbers of the HMS Resolute (what Victoria gave Grover Cleveland). Now shut the hell up. Yes his gift to Gordon Brown was a gaffe. These gifts were not.
Reply to this comment
by whitemale08 April 1, 2009 3:59 PM EDT
There seems to be no lack of ignorant and rude people around here. Anyone ever hear of the term "Ugly American"? Your nasty comments about the Queen of England certainly make one wonder. Have a little taste and show a little class.
Posted by KMann2 at 12:23 PM : Apr 1, 2009 0--

Hey dude,

take that British crap back to England, that type of talk is not welcome here in these Sovereign United States.

This woman will be referred to as Mrs. Elizabeth Edinburgh or whatever her last name is.

There are no titles in this country and neither should there be in any other country. All of this 'Lord this' and 'Count that' and 'Duke of' whatever is pure nonsense and comes out of the Dark Ages of Miedeval fuedalism and serfdom.

That's one of the problems the world has, it's silly idiots who believe this crap that we should go back to the 'Guilded Age' of Lords and Serfs.

The whole monarchy thing and calling themselves royalty is stupid and needs to be shut down.

We've got plenty of people who are productive and worth more to society then this gaggle of inbred parasites sucking the blood off the financial system through their useless paper fiat-currency and credit-default swap crap.
Reply to this comment
by hawksprings April 1, 2009 3:31 PM EDT
"The really cool thing is that she will have an educated well spoken Democratic Pres. and First lady instead of an ignorant Repiglican , who speaks in Babelese.!!"
Posted by endeaver-2009

Yeah, it's really cool that our Community Organizer President gives our closest allies a set of DVDs and an I-pod.

How old is Obama? 14?
Sheesh.
Reply to this comment
by KMann2 April 1, 2009 3:23 PM EDT
There seems to be no lack of ignorant and rude people around here. Anyone ever hear of the term "Ugly American"? Your nasty comments about the Queen of England certainly make one wonder. Have a little taste and show a little class.
Reply to this comment
by hawksprings April 1, 2009 3:22 PM EDT
"On a side note, both obama and hillary still haven't paid off their campaign debts. Keep your ears peeled for that story."
Posted by jgg00000008

Don't hold your breath for that one.
Notice how Democrat Politicians don't pay their debts OR their taxes?
But they'll gladly tax us to death and spend our money.
Reply to this comment
by stevex47 April 1, 2009 3:11 PM EDT
"As a tax payer, I don't want my public dollars going towards expensive gifts for monarchs "

Yet, somehow, ha, I'm guessin' you have no issue with palin giving levi thousands of our dollars for clothes.
Reply to this comment
by Electric_Night April 1, 2009 3:10 PM EDT
As a fellow Brit watching live coverage from the UK, i can safely say that even i, am a little bemused by Obama's ipod gift...
Their hasnt actually been any mention of gifts here on our news channels.
The strong relationship between the US and the UK has been glowing all day. i For one am glad to see it, if not a little reluctant.
Reply to this comment
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