Queen Receives President Obama On State Visit To Britain

U.S. President Barack Obama (left) and his wife Michelle (second right) meet with Queen Elizabeth II (second left) and Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace in London

U.S. President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle have been officially received at Buckingham Palace by Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The Obamas arrived in London on May 24 for a state visit to Britain slightly ahead of schedule in order to avoid possible flight disruptions from an Icelandic volcanic ash cloud.

The U.S. president opened a four-nation tour of Europe with a visit to Ireland on May 23.

In a joint article in published in The Times, Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron, said their countries' relationship "is an essential relationship -- for us and for the world."

Obama and Cameron are scheduled to hold talks on May 25.

In addition to Ireland and Britain, Obama is scheduled to attend the Group Of Eight summit in France later this week followed by a visit Poland.

compiled from agency reports