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# Barack Obama pays tribute to 'bond with Britain that endures'
## President Barack Obama last night paid tribute to the "enduring bond
between our two countries" in a speech at Buckingham Palace.
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TelegraphPlayer-8534601
[Link to this video][1]
[![Gordon Rayner][2]][3]
By [Gordon Rayner][4], Chief Reporter 10:18PM BST 24 May 2011
Concluding a highly successful first day of his State visit, Mr Obama said he
wanted to "reinforce the special relationship".
The Queen told 170 guests at the State banquet that the world was a more
secure place when "the United States and the United Kingdom stand together".
Earlier the president and his wife, Michelle, met the Duke and Duchess of
Cambridge - fresh from their honeymoon in the Seychelles - and quickly
established a rapport.
Looking tanned and relaxed, the Duke and Duchess, carrying out their first
official duty as a married couple, spent around 20 minutes chatting to the
Obamas at the Palace.
Mr Obama was given full State honours, including a 41-gun salute from Green
Park, after being welcomed by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. He was only
the third US president to be afforded the honour.
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24 May 2011
Then, as the Queen showed the Obamas an exhibition of US memorabilia from the
Royal Collection, the president repeatedly cracked jokes as he and the Queen
chatted like old friends.
At one point, as he was shown letters relating to Britain's loss of the
American colonies, Mr Obama reassured the monarch: "That was only a temporary
blip in the relationship."
The Obamas had previously met the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh during the
G20 summit in 2009, when Mrs Obama famously broke royal protocol by putting
her arm around Her Majesty.
Although Mrs Obama was more formal in her approach this time, the two first
families were clearly enjoying each other's company throughout the day.
At one point during the tour of the Royal Collection, Mr Obama was shown a
photograph of HMS Resolute, timbers from which were used to make the desk in
the Oval Office.
"This is my desk in the Oval Office. I think we got a pretty good deal out of
that," he said. Mr and Mrs Obama were also shown letters and pictures from the
first royal visit to the US in 1860 by the Prince of Wales, who later became
Edward VII.
He had tried to travel incognito under the name Lord Renfrew -
"theoretically", the Queen said with a knowing smile. Mr Obama responded: "I
guess he wasn't fooling anybody."
Later, the Obamas laid a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior in
Westminster Abbey, where he shook hands with each of the 24 members of the
choir. Praising their efforts, he said: "I like to think I could sing," to
which his wife retorted: "Well, he can't really, but he can dance." Mrs Obama
was also heard to say: "It's great to be back."
Travelling in a motorcade of 18 cars and coaches which appeared to take over
the capital at times, the couple also visited Downing Street for a meeting
with the Prime Minister and his wife. The president and David Cameron visited
the Globe Academy school in Southwark, where the two leaders took off their
jackets and challenged two boys to a game of table tennis.
"Who wants to take me on?" Mr Obama said as he walked into the gym.
Today Mr Obama will follow in the footsteps of Charles de Gaulle, Nelson
Mandela and the Pope by addressing both Houses of Parliament in Westminster
Hall.
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## [Barack Obama][16]
* ### [News »][17]
* ### [North America »][18]
* ### [UK News »][19]
* ### [Gordon Rayner »][20]
In news
[![US President Barack Obama's state visit to Britain: day two in
pictures][21] ][22]
### [Obamas visit Britain: day two][22]
[![US President Barack Obama's state visit to Britain: security and
protests][23] ][24]
### [Obama: security and protests][24]
[![Queen Elizabeth II and US President Barack Obama during a State Banquet in
Buckingham Palace,][25] ][6]
### [Obamas visit Britain: day one][6]
[![][26] ][27]
### [Obama honours 'special relationship' in toast to the Queen][27]
[![Barack Obama UK visit: trip well received in US media: US President Barack
Obama high-fives with British Prime Minister David Cameron as they play table
tennis ][28] ][29]
### [Obama and Cameron team up for ping pong doubles][29]
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