Obama accepts Queen’s invitation to visit UK in May

LONDON - US President Barack Obama has reportedly accepted Queen Elizabeth’s invitation to visit Britain in May this year, ahead of his expected visit to the G8 summit in France.

Obama would reportedly be accompanied by his wife Michelle for the three-day trip, The Telegraph reports.

The announcement of the visit, from May 24 to 26, was made simultaneously on both sides of the Atlantic by the Palace and the White House.

“We are very pleased that this visit is taking place. It is a sign of the strong and enduring relationship between our two countries,” the paper quoted Downing Street, as saying.

Obama’s trip would reportedly be the first state visit by a US leader since George W Bush came to the UK in November 2003. Obama had last visited London in 2009 to attend the G20 summit.

The US President is expected to bring a delegation with him, and is also likely to hold talks with British Prime Minister David Cameron on a number of issues, the paper said.

Since the Queen came to the throne in 1952 there have been 12 US Presidents and she has met every one except Lyndon B Johnson, who took over after the assassination of John F Kennedy in 1963, it added.

Obama, who along with his wife will stay at Buckingham Palace, had reportedly built a strong bond of friendship with the Queen during his visit to London in April 2009. (ANI)