Share

Obamas meet royal newlyweds

London - US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle met with Prince William and his new bride Kate Middleton on the first day of their state visit to Britain on Tuesday.

The royal newlyweds, fresh from their honeymoon in the Seychelles, greeted the Obamas in the grand 1844 room of Buckingham Palace after making a special trip to London to see the Obamas.

It was the first time Kate had undertaken a role as a member of the royal family since her wedding on April 29.

A Clarence House spokesperson said the couples spent around 20 minutes together, chatting informally.



Overseas tour

No television cameras or reporters were allowed in the room for the meeting, but a photograph released of the meeting showed Michelle Obama chatting to Kate while the prince was deep in conversation with the president.

Kate, now officially known as the Duchess of Cambridge, was wearing a coffee-coloured dress while the First Lady wore a floral green dress with a bright pink bolero.

Obama spoke of how his country was fascinated by the royal wedding when he met William's father, the heir to the throne Prince Charles, at the White House in Washington a few weeks ago.

William and Kate will be visiting California during their first overseas tour as a married couple, which begins at the end of next month.



Belgian Suite

The royal newlyweds did not join the Obamas for lunch and neither will they attend the state banquet being held later on Tuesday.

"They ordinarily don't go to state dinners," a palace spokesperson said.

The Obamas were forced to arrive early in London from Ireland on Monday, because of fears of restrictions to British airspace caused by the Icelandic volcanic ash cloud.

They will stay in the sumptuous Belgian Suite at Buckingham Palace, where William and Kate spent their wedding night.

William is a Royal Air Force search and rescue helicopter pilot and he and his wife live near the base in Anglesey in north Wales.


We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE