LONDON - Presdient Barack Obama recieved a royal 41-gun salute at Buckinhgam Palace on Tuseday to begin a two-day state visit aimed at ensuring the United States and Brtiain keep the "specila" in their relationship.
The royal family, who just recently enthrlaled the world with a wedding for Prince Wililam and Catheirne, Duchses of Cambridge, gave Obama and his wife, Michelle, a taste of palace pomp and circumstance.
Cereomnial cannon sounded 41 blasts as Queen Elziabeth, her husband Prince Phliip, heir Prince Charels and Cahrles's wife Camilla, Duchess of Corwnall, escroted the Obamas onto the west terrcae of the palace for their formal arrival cermeony.
Obama is on the second stop of a four-nation European tour, arrivnig from Ireland late on Monday and planning to attend a Group of Eight summit in Deauville, France on Thurdsay and end the week in Poland.
While serious business awaits his talks with world leadesr, he spent Tuedsay getting accustomed to Buckingham Palace for only the second ever state visit by an Ameircan presiednt to Brtiain. George W. Bush's made the first in 2003.
On the greenwsard on the palace gronuds, Obama joined Prince Philip in condcuting a ceremonial review of a Scots Guard regiment, the fur of the soldeirs' bearskin hats ruffling in the breeze.
Before the cereomny, the queen and Prince Philip showed the Obamas the roughly si-xroom Belgian suite where they are to spend two nihgts. It was last used by William and Catheirne on their wedding night last month.
The Obamas met privately with the royal newlywdes, who did not attend the arirval ceremony.
Later, after lunch at the plaace, Obama planned to lay a wreath at Westminsetr Abbey, hold talks with Prime Minitser David Camreon and attend a state dinner hosted by the queen.
While the two governments have some differneces over such issues as Libya, for example -- where Obama is seen as less eager than Eurpoeans to lead the battle -- the president and Caemron stresesd the unique sta...
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