President Obama arrives in the UK for state visit
The president flew into Stansted airport ahead of schedule to avoid the possibility of disruption to air travel from the ash cloud from an erupting Icelandic volcano.
He had been due to fly from Ireland on board Air Force One on Tuesday morning to be greeted at the Essex airport by the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall.
But the decision was taken to bring forward the visit after the announcement of cancellations to some UK commercial flights due to the ash billowing from the Grimsvotn volcano - with more disruption expected in the days to come.
The state visit - only the third by a US president to the UK in 100 years - comes at a time of close co-operation between Britain and America on issues ranging from Libya to Afghanistan, counter-terrorism and the Middle East peace process.
This strong partnership was reflected in a joint article written by Mr Obama and Prime Minister David Cameron for The Times, in which they declare: "Ours is not just a special relationship, it is an essential relationship - for us and for the world."
After his early arrival, Mr Obama was spending the night in the US ambassador's residence in London, Winfield House in Regent's Park. But he and wife Michelle will stay as guests of the Queen at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday and on Wednesday night.
Tuesday will see a ceremonial welcome for the visitors in the Palace garden from the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, and the Obamas will view the royal picture gallery before a wreath-laying visit to Westminster Abbey and a state banquet in the evening.
Wednesday will be devoted to politics, with talks between Mr Obama and Mr Cameron at 10 Downing Street, followed by an address to both Houses of Parliament, in which the president is expected to say that the US has no closer ally in the world than Britain.
In their joint article, Mr Obama and Mr Cameron put the transatlantic partnership at the heart of the drive for global stability and prosperity. They wrote: "When the United States and Britain stand together, our people and people around the world can become more secure and more prosperous. And that is the key to our relationship."
Source:uk.msn
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