President Obama and his wife, Michelle, have expanded their royal acquaintances today after meeting Prince George, who was allowed to stay up past his bedtime for a photo opportunity that might just break the Internet.
George’s sister, Princess Charlotte, missed out on the encounter after she fell asleep, preferring to snooze instead of making nice with the leader of the free world.
But Prince George, clad in a fetching dressing gown and smart pajamas, stole the show as he was introduced to President Obama and Michelle in Will and Kate’s private apartment, who both crouched to be on eye level with the young Prince.
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Obama and his wife were visiting Kensington Palace, on what has turned into an unexpectedly controversial visit to the United Kingdom.
President Obama was plunged into the febrile political debate on the U.K.’s forthcoming referendum on whether or not the country should leave the European Union after he penned a newspaper piece urging the U.K. to stay in the bloc.
London Mayor Boris Johnson, a prominent ‘out’ campaigner, was accused of ‘dog-whistle’ politics after he referred to Obama as ‘part-Kenyan’ in a riposte in the Sun newspaper.
However, after a meeting with Prime Minister David Cameron, politics were forgotten as the president and his wife visited the Queen for lunch.
Later in the day the Obamas were welcomed by the young royals—Harry, Kate, William, George and Charlotte—at their London base, Kensington Palace.
They have all met independently previously on several occasions and Michelle previously referred to Harry as a ‘real guy’ over his support for wounded veterans.
The presidential couple will be staying for an informal dinner at “KP” this evening.
Prince George was briefly introduced to Obama and Michelle, while Prince William, on what turned into a wet and miserable day in London, apologized for the very British weather.
The Obamas came bearing gifts—a rocking horse for Prince George and a stuffed dog for Charlotte, apparently a representation of White House pooch Sunny.
The visit was notable among U.K. photographers as it marked the first time that William and Kate have allowed cameras into their London home, which was the subject of a multimillion-pound refurbishment before they moved in two years ago.
And guess what? It’s, as you might expect from Kate and Will, not flashy but modest-looking luxe.
Harry, Michelle, and Kate sat on one side of the room while Obama and William appeared locked in conversation on the opposite side of a large upholstered octagonal table, on which rested, somewhat incongruously, the stuffed dog Michelle and Obama had brought for Charlotte.
