The President of the United States, Barack Obama, will visit the United Kingdom next month where as part of his itinerary he will dine with the Queen at Windsor Castle.
The lunch is expected to take place just a few days after Her Majesty celebrates her milestone 90th birthday in April.
A White House spokesman said: “The visit will allow the president to offer his gratitude to the British government and people for their stalwart partnership with his administration and the American people throughout his presidency.”
Whilst in London, President Obama will also host a joint press conference with Prime Minister David Cameron where is is expected to advocate the UK’s case for remaining a member of the European Union.
This will likely be the 54-year-old’s last visit to the UK before his term in office comes to an end in January when a new President will be elected.
He has previously endorsed the campaign for the UK to remain a member of the EU ahead of the referendum held in June.
President Obama said the UK’s EU membership gave America “much greater confidence about the strength of the transatlantic union”.
Critics blasted the President’s comments however, with Boris Johnson describing them as a “piece of outrageous and exorbitant hypocrisy”.
The Queen herself has also been dragged into the so called ‘Brexit’ row after a British tabloid made claims that she supports the UK leaving the EU. Buckingham Palace have denied this and have officially complained as a result.
This will not be the first time the President will have visited the royal family.
In 2011, Her Majesty hosted Mr and Mrs Obama during a state visit at Buckingham Palace where the First Lady was seen putting her arm around the monarch’s waist.
After stopping of at the UK, the President will travel on to Germany followed by Saudi Arabia.
Her Majesty Queen!,and Mr President Obama!,I wish you’ll a splendid togetherness with God’s grace.
A little concerning that the President feels it is his place to interfere with a question of British Sovereignty, let us hope Her Majesty sets him straight! God save the Queen
As the United States will back up the United Kingdom as the strongest possible ally in any conflict, and the two countries enjoy a very close bond fondly known as the “Special Relationship”, I think he’s entitled to offer his opinion. It’s hardly “interfering”. And as Her Majesty the Queen has immaculate manners, and is above politics, I doubt very much she would tell him what to do.
In addition to the USA’s strong relationship with the United Kingdom, we also have close ties to the EU and all of the countries in it.
There’s nothing wrong with the American President wanting our allies to stay close to each other, instead of fracturing.
Obviously given how close our nations are he will have an opinion and is entitled to it as a private citizen. To express his views on such a partisan subject “as president” however is something very different indeed and is only likely to increase the differences between our counties given just how strongly people feel about the EU in the UK and just how divisive a political issue it is. Agree or disagree with Europe it’s simply not the place of the president to campaign for one side or the other
Maybe he thought that was a golf course across from Buckingham Palace.
Correction: A new President will be elected in November 2016. He or she will be inaugurated – – will officially take office – – in January 2017.
My sympathies to the Queen.
My sympathies exactly; but, she likes Africans.
God save the Queen and President Barack Obama.Two great person:)
Her Majesty Queen!,and Mr President Obama!,I wish you’ll a splendid togetherness with God’s grace.Regards from Poland:)