President Obama expected to meet the Queen next month

Published on Friday 6 March 2009 11:52

US president Barack Obama is expected to meet the Queen at Buckingham Palace when he visits Britain next month.

There was no official confirmation from the Palace, the Foreign Office or the US Embassy in London of reports that the president will have an informal "getting to know you" session with the Queen ahead of the G20 summit of the world's leading economies on April 2.

But detailed reports in a number of newspapers suggested Mr Obama will fly into Stansted Airport with wife Michelle on March 31 – two days ahead of the economic summit – and have an audience with the Queen the following day.

In a statement, the White House confirmed Mr Obama's visit to Europe will begin on March 31 in the United Kingdom.

An audience with the Queen would be unusual, as these usually take place only on official state visits to the UK.

If it goes ahead, it will make Mr Obama the 11th US president to meet the Queen, who has seen each of the holders of the post since her accession in 1952, with the exception of Lyndon Johnson.

Reports suggested Mr and Mrs Obama will arrive on Air Force One at Stansted on the evening of March 31 before being flown by helicopter to the residence of the US ambassador in London.

On the eve of the G20 summit he will attend a dinner hosted by Prime Minister Gordon Brown at 10 Downing Street for all 19 of the visiting world leaders and their wives, it was reported.

Following the G20 gathering, at London's ExCel Centre, Mr Obama will hold talks with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel before attending a Nato summit in the French-German border towns of Strasbourg and Kehl, then flying on to the Czech capital Prague for a meeting with European Union leaders.