US President Barack Obama is to make a state visit to Britain later this year after accepting an invitation from the Queen.
Both Buckingham Palace and the White House announced simultaneously that the President will visit the UK from 24th-26th May, a few weeks after the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. It will be the first state visit by a US President to the UK since 2003.
Downing Street said: ''We are very pleased that this visit is taking place. It is a sign of the strong and enduring relationship between our two countries.''
Obama will talk with British Prime Minister David Cameron on a whole range of issues.
As is traditional with state visits, the President and his wife, who will stay at Buckingham Palace, will receive a full ceremonial welcome and a banquet will be held at the Palace in his honour.
Since the Queen came to the throne in 1952 there have been 12 US presidents and she has met every one except Lyndon B Johnson, who took over after the assassination of John F Kennedy in 1963.
The state visit comes despite Obama seeming to not like the British much which, in recent decades, is unusual for a US President (just look at Reagan and Thatcher). He once wrote a book in which he explained his Kenyan grandfather's supposed mistreatment at the hands of the British during the Mau Mau Rebellion in the 1950s and, just after being elected, one of the first things he did was remove the bust of Winston Churchill from the Oval Office.
Despite that, Obama must recognise that Britain remains America's closest ally.
President Barack Obama to make state visit to Britain
US President Barack Obama is to make a state visit to the UK in May after accepting an invitation from the Queen, Buckingham Palace has announced.
U.S. President Barack Obama speaks after addressing the nation
17 Feb 2011
The Telegraph
Mr Obama will be joined by his wife Michelle for the three-day trip, which comes ahead of the G8 summit of world leaders in France which the American politician is expected to attend.
The announcement of the visit, from May 24 to 26, was made simultaneously on both sides of the Atlantic by the Palace and the White House.
Downing Street said: ''We are very pleased that this visit is taking place. It is a sign of the strong and enduring relationship between our two countries.''
It will be the first state visit by a US leader since George W Bush came to the UK in November 2003, although Mr Bush was later hosted by the Queen at Windsor Castle in 2008.
Mr Obama has previously been to London for the G20 summit in 2009.
The US leader is likely to bring a delegation with him and is expected to hold talks with Prime Minister David Cameron on a range of issues.
As is traditional with state visits, the President and his wife, who will stay at Buckingham Palace, will receive a full ceremonial welcome and a banquet will be held in his honour.
The visit comes too late for Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding on April 29, although a guest list for the ceremony has yet to be released.
Since the Queen came to the throne in 1952 there have been 12 US presidents and she has met every one except Lyndon B Johnson, who took over after the assassination of John F Kennedy in 1963.
It was during Mr Obama's visit to London in April 2009 that she and the American First Lady formed a strong friendship.
After a photocall for G20 leaders at Buckingham Palace they were seen putting their arms around each other.
It was a breach of protocol but the pair seemed at ease.
Mrs Obama returned to Britain later that year with her daughters, Sasha and Malia, for a short private visit to the capital.
They were given a guided tour of Buckingham Palace and its gardens by palace staff and met the Queen.
At the time the two women, who share an interest in the countryside, gardening and clothes, were said to have stayed in touch.
telegraph.co.uk
Both Buckingham Palace and the White House announced simultaneously that the President will visit the UK from 24th-26th May, a few weeks after the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. It will be the first state visit by a US President to the UK since 2003.
Downing Street said: ''We are very pleased that this visit is taking place. It is a sign of the strong and enduring relationship between our two countries.''
Obama will talk with British Prime Minister David Cameron on a whole range of issues.
As is traditional with state visits, the President and his wife, who will stay at Buckingham Palace, will receive a full ceremonial welcome and a banquet will be held at the Palace in his honour.
Since the Queen came to the throne in 1952 there have been 12 US presidents and she has met every one except Lyndon B Johnson, who took over after the assassination of John F Kennedy in 1963.
The state visit comes despite Obama seeming to not like the British much which, in recent decades, is unusual for a US President (just look at Reagan and Thatcher). He once wrote a book in which he explained his Kenyan grandfather's supposed mistreatment at the hands of the British during the Mau Mau Rebellion in the 1950s and, just after being elected, one of the first things he did was remove the bust of Winston Churchill from the Oval Office.
Despite that, Obama must recognise that Britain remains America's closest ally.
President Barack Obama to make state visit to Britain
US President Barack Obama is to make a state visit to the UK in May after accepting an invitation from the Queen, Buckingham Palace has announced.
U.S. President Barack Obama speaks after addressing the nation
17 Feb 2011
The Telegraph
Mr Obama will be joined by his wife Michelle for the three-day trip, which comes ahead of the G8 summit of world leaders in France which the American politician is expected to attend.
The announcement of the visit, from May 24 to 26, was made simultaneously on both sides of the Atlantic by the Palace and the White House.
Downing Street said: ''We are very pleased that this visit is taking place. It is a sign of the strong and enduring relationship between our two countries.''
It will be the first state visit by a US leader since George W Bush came to the UK in November 2003, although Mr Bush was later hosted by the Queen at Windsor Castle in 2008.
Mr Obama has previously been to London for the G20 summit in 2009.
The US leader is likely to bring a delegation with him and is expected to hold talks with Prime Minister David Cameron on a range of issues.
As is traditional with state visits, the President and his wife, who will stay at Buckingham Palace, will receive a full ceremonial welcome and a banquet will be held in his honour.
The visit comes too late for Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding on April 29, although a guest list for the ceremony has yet to be released.
Since the Queen came to the throne in 1952 there have been 12 US presidents and she has met every one except Lyndon B Johnson, who took over after the assassination of John F Kennedy in 1963.
It was during Mr Obama's visit to London in April 2009 that she and the American First Lady formed a strong friendship.
After a photocall for G20 leaders at Buckingham Palace they were seen putting their arms around each other.
It was a breach of protocol but the pair seemed at ease.
Mrs Obama returned to Britain later that year with her daughters, Sasha and Malia, for a short private visit to the capital.
They were given a guided tour of Buckingham Palace and its gardens by palace staff and met the Queen.
At the time the two women, who share an interest in the countryside, gardening and clothes, were said to have stayed in touch.
telegraph.co.uk