State Visit of the President of the United States of America and Mrs Obama, 24 to 26 May 2011
The President of the United States, President Barack Obama, will pay a State Visit to the United Kingdom at the invitation of The Queen.
The President will be accompanied by Mrs Obama and will stay at Buckingham Palace.
View images from the visit
View US-related items from the Royal Collection which were shown to the President and Mrs Obama
View information about the ceremonial welcome
View information about the official gifts
Find out more about the silver and service used at the Banquet
Find out more about the procession, menu and music at the Banquet
View the guest list for the Banquet
Tuesday 24 May
Morning - The President and Mrs.Obama arrive. Official welcome ceremony. Meeting with The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Find out more about the ceremonial welcome
Afternoon - Exchange of gifts
View information about the official gifts
Viewing of US-related items from the Royal Collection
View the display of items
Evening – State Banquet at Buckingham Palace. Speeches from The Queen and President Obama.
Read the Queen's speech at the State Banquet
Find out more about the silver and service used at the Banquet
Find out more about the procession, menu and music at the Banquet
View the guest list for the Banquet
Wednesday 25 May
Morning and afternoon - President Obama visits 10 Downing Street and the Palace of Westminster.
Evening – The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh attend a dinner given by The President and Mrs. Obama at the US Ambassador’s residence in London, Winfield House, Regents Park; Her Majesty and His Royal Highness bid farewell to President and Mrs. Obama.
Thursday 26 May
Morning - The President and Mrs. Obama depart Buckingham Palace.
Useful links
US Embassy State Visit website (opens in new window)
State Visits
Background
Previous visits by American Presidents include:
President Eisenhower paid a visit to The Queen at Balmoral Castle in 1959:
President and Mrs Kennedy dined with The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace in June 1961;
President Nixon had lunch with The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace in February 1969 and again visited in 1970;
President Carter was received by The Queen in London in 1977;
President and Mrs Reagan made an official visit to the UK in June 1982, staying at Windsor Castle;
President and Mrs Bush had lunch with The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh in June 1989;
President and Mrs Clinton visited The Queen in December 2000;
President George W Bush and Mrs Bush had lunch with The Queen on 19th July 2001 at Buckingham Palace;
President George W Bush and Mrs Bush November made a State Visit to the UK in November 2003;
President George W Bush and Mrs Bush visited The Queen at Windsor Castle on 15th June, 2008;
President and Mrs Obama met The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace during the G20 meeting in London in April 2009.
The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh have made four State Visits to the USA: in October 1957 (President Eisenhower), in July 1976 for the US Bicentennial (President Ford), May 1991 (President Bush) and May 2007 (President George W Bush).
Her Majesty and His Royal Highness also made an official visit to the West Coast of America in February/March 1983 (President Reagan).
The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh visited New York in 2010, where Her Majesty addressed the United Nations.
