Showing posts with label Presidents. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Presidents. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Friday, June 3, 2011
What did the Obamas give to the Royal Family during their UK state visit?
As only the second state visit by a US President during Her Majesty's reign, the Obamas' trip to Britain is an important occasion.
And those involved marked the event with the exchanging of gifts, which included jewellery, pony bits and a jar of honey.
The two heads of state, and their spouses, offered each other specially bound books, with Barack Obama receiving facsimiles of Royal Archive letters sent between Queen Victoria and a succession of American presidents.
The documents were bound in red leather with gold lettering and displayed in a presentation box.
The Queen received a handmade leather bound album containing rare memorabilia and photographs that chronologically highlight the trip of her parents to America in 1939, the first by a reigning British monarch.
Michelle was given an antique gold and red coral brooch in the form of roses, presented in a jewel box covered in the same red leather as her husband's book.
The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall were offered plants, seedlings and seeds from the South Lawn of the White House and jars of honey from the White House beehive.
And newlyweds Duke and Duchess of Cambridge received laptop computers from the Obamas as wedding gifts.
These have gone to the Northern Ireland branch of PeacePlayers international which uses basketball to bring children from opposing communities together.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Queen Elizabeth hosted state dinner for President Barack Obama
Among the 171 guests present were Kevin Spacey, Tom Hanks and director Tim Burton and his partner Helena Bonham Carter.
Virgin boss Richard Branson was there, as was Prime Minister David Cameron and his predecessors Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.
A long day of public appointments had done nothing to dent the enthusiasm or energy of the high profile guests, who smiled warmly throughout.
Mr Obama paid tribute to the Queen's "lifetime of extraordinary service to her nation and to the world."
His wife Michelle looked stunning in a Tom Ford gown, accessorized with white gloves and a jewelled clutch.
During their time in the capital the US visitors are staying in the Belgian suite – the same one used by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on their wedding night.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Pomp and circumstance on Obamas' state visit
President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle have been welcomed to Britain by senior royals.
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall met the VIP guests at Winfield House, the residence of the US Ambassador, before escorting them to Buckingham Palace.
First lady Michelle looked colourful in a blue patterned 50s style swing dress and a pink shrug.
Meanwhile, Camilla was elegant in a cream outfit by Anna Valentine with a Philip Treacy hat.
At the Palace, they were warmly greeted by the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh.
Once inside, they met the new Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, fresh from their honeymoon in the Seychelles, in the lavish 1844 room of the Palace.
The Obamas then stepped into the garden for a full ceremonial welcome, which included the playing of both the American and British National Anthem.
A 41-gun salute from the Tower of London was fired by the Honourable Artillery Company to mark the second state visit by a US President during Her Majesty's reign.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
[United Kingdom] Prince William & Catherine in private meeting with Barack & Michelle Obama
Even if it was a private meeting, it was a first for both Prince William and Catherine - in a nude Reiss dress - as Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. They had a 20-minute meeting with US President, Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle - in a Barbara Tfank dress, at the Buckingham Palace. They looked good, relaxed and tanned from their 10-day honeymoon. We had missed them, didn't we? Argh, admit it! ;)
(I am in love with Michelle's dress. I don't care for the pink bolero though).
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Queen Elizabeth in Ireland - Day Three (part Two) - Convention Centre Event
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| President McAleese and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II arrive in the Convention Centre Dublin |
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| Queen Elizabeth II meeting Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton TD and Minister for Children , Frances Fitzgerald TD |
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| Photo shows from left Patrick Hickey, Olympic Council of Ireland; Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II meeting Irish Olympic athlete, Derval O' Rourke (right) |
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The guests of honour watching the fashion show |
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Her Majesty meets performer Mary Byrne |
HM Queen Elizabeth II tonight welcomed President Mary McAleese and Taoiseach Enda Kenny among other guests to an event hosted by British Ambassador Julian King at the Convention Centre Dublin. The evening involved a fashion show, music and other entertainment.
Queen Silvia of Sweden travels to Brazil and meets President Dilma Rousseff
Queen Silvia of Sweden is traveling at the moment to her mother Alice Sommerlath's homeland: Brazil. She met Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff at the Palace of Planalto and both had a lot to talk about in terms of cooperation. They also talked about the World Childhood Foundation, founded by the Queen to come in hand to children in need. I wonder if they talked in Portuguese or not, as I do not know if the Queen is a fluent Portuguese speaker.
[VIDEO] King Abdullah II of Jordan meets President Barack Obama to discuss situation in Middle-East
(am a big fan of the King's english and voice)
(ah nothing like a frivolous comment during such difficult times)
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Queen Elizabeth in Ireland - Day Two (part five and last) - State dinner at Dublin Castle and Queen's speech
Thanks to twitter, I was able to follow many of these events today, live on RTE.ie. I seriously come to the conclusion I am building a crush on President Mary McAleese (friendly crush, worry not) and on Ireland. But I am sure that when I visit the Emerald Isle, the streets and sights will not be as morbidly empty as they have been these past days for security reasons.
McAleese seems to be a very warm lady - I saw it by the way she greeted every single attendant at Croke Park - and I think that her and the Queen hit it off - respectfully, of course. During the Queen's speech (see below), she said wow and applauded when the Queen said a few words in Gaelic and was very enthused to applaud again at the end.
The Duke of Edinburgh, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, President Mary McAleese and Martin McAleese on arrival at Dublin Castle
Irish rugby legend Brian O'Driscoll was one of a number of guests with the opportunity to meet Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
The hall standing on arrival of President McAleese and Queen Elizabeth II
The Queen was wearing her Girls of the Great Britain and Ireland Tiara.
A Uachtaráin agus a chairde (President and friends). Prince Philip and I are delighted to be here, and to experience at first hand Ireland's world-famous hospitality.
Together we have much to celebrate: the ties between our people, the shared values, and the economic, business and cultural links that make us so much more than just neighbours, that make us firm friends and equal partners.
Madam President, speaking here in Dublin Castle it is impossible to ignore the weight of history, as it was yesterday when you and I laid wreaths at the Garden of Remembrance.
Indeed, so much of this visit reminds us of the complexity of our history, its many layers and traditions, but also the importance of forbearance and conciliation. Of being able to bow to the past, but not be bound by it.
Of course, the relationship has not always been straightforward; nor has the record over the centuries been entirely benign. It is a sad and regrettable reality that through history our islands have experienced more than their fair share of heartache, turbulence and loss.
These events have touched us all, many of us personally, and are a painful legacy. We can never forget those who have died or been injured, and their families. To all those who have suffered as a consequence of our troubled past I extend my sincere thoughts and deep sympathy.
With the benefit of historical hindsight we can all see things which we would wish had been done differently or not at all. But it is also true that no-one who looked to the future over the past centuries could have imagined the strength of the bonds that are now in place between the governments and the people of our two nations, the spirit of partnership that we now enjoy, and the lasting rapport between us. No-one here this evening could doubt that heartfelt desire of our two nations.
Madam President, you have done a great deal to promote this understanding and reconciliation.
You set out to build bridges. And I have seen at first hand your success in bringing together different communities and traditions on this island. You have also shed new light on the sacrifice of those who served in the First World War. Even as we jointly opened the Messines Peace Park in 1998, it was difficult to look ahead to the time when you and I would be standing together at Islandbridge as we were today.
That transformation is also evident in the establishment of a successful power-sharing Executive in Northern Ireland. A knot of history that was painstakingly loosened by the British and Irish Governments together with the strength, vision and determination of the political parties in Northern Ireland.
What were once only hopes for the future have now come to pass; it is almost exactly 13 years since the overwhelming majority of people in Ireland and Northern Ireland voted in favour of the agreement signed on Good Friday 1998, paving the way for Northern Ireland to become the exciting and inspirational place that it is today.
I applaud the work of all those involved in the peace process, and of all those who support and nurture peace, including members of the police, the Gardaí, and the other emergency services, and those who work in the communities, the churches and charitable bodies like Co-operation Ireland. Taken together, their work not only serves as a basis for reconciliation between our people and communities, but it gives hope to other peacemakers across the world that through sustained effort, peace can and will prevail.
For the world moves on quickly. The challenges of the past have been replaced by new economic challenges which will demand the same imagination and courage. The lessons from the peace process are clear; whatever life throws at us, our individual responses will be all the stronger for working together and sharing the load.
There are other stories written daily across these islands which do not find their voice in solemn pages of history books, or newspaper headlines, but which are at the heart of our shared narrative.
Many British families have members who live in this country, as many Irish families have close relatives in the United Kingdom.
These families share the two islands; they have visited each other and have come home to each other over the years.
They are the ordinary people who yearned for the peace and understanding we now have between our two nations and between the communities within those two nations; a living testament to how much in common we have.
These ties of family, friendship and affection are our most precious resource. They are the lifeblood of the partnership across these islands, a golden thread that runs through all our joint successes so far, and all we will go on to achieve.
They are a reminder that we have much to do together to build a future for all our grandchildren: the kind of future our grandparents could only dream of.
So we celebrate together the widespread spirit of goodwill and deep mutual understanding that has served to make the relationship more harmonious, close as good neighbours should always be.
Queen Elizabeth in Ireland - Day Two (part four) - Visit to Croke Park, site of 1920's Bloody Sunday
The monarch's journey of reconciliation continued during her first trip to the Irish Republic. The 85-year-old visited Croke Park - the scene of one of the darkest episodes in the history of British-Irish relations.
It was at this football ground – now an 82,000-seater stadium – in 1920 that British soldiers shot dead 13 spectators and one player during a Gaelic football match.
This was in retaliation for the death of 14 British intelligence agents at the hands of the Irish Republican Army.
Wearing yellow, the monarch was greeted by officials at the stadium – the home of Ireland's Gaelic Athletic Association. They had pledged to give her a warm welcome, and certainly delivered on that promise. After receiving a tour of the locker room and the stadium facilities, the Queen was led out onto the pitch.
The visit was the perhaps the most significant of her trip in acknowledging past wrongs committed by Britain during its years of ruling Ireland.
Queen Elizabeth and the President of the GAA, Christy Cooney, where she took a tour of the changing rooms and met with GAA sports stars, from Left: Hurlers Lar Corbett, and Padraic Maher from Tipperary, Footballer Kevin Nolan from Dublin, and Footballer Joe Sheridan from Meath.
Queen Elizabeth and The Duke of Edinburgh pictured at Croke Park in Dublin, where they were presented with a Hurley and sliotar by the President of the GAA.
Departing Croke Park
Queen Elizabeth in Ireland - Day Two (part three) - Wreath laying ceremony at Irish War Memorial Garden
The next step of the journey took the Queen and Prince Philip to the Irish War Memorial Garden in Islandbridge.
The Queen, dressed in a white and turquoise hat and a matching coat of swiss wool, paid a solemn tribute to Ireland's war dead, laying a wreath of poppies at the memorial in Dublin.
The memorial - now in pristine condition - was derelict for a long time because of the contempt felt towards those who had fought in the name of the crown.
The memorial - now in pristine condition - was derelict for a long time because of the contempt felt towards those who had fought in the name of the crown.
Both the president, Mary McAleese and Queen Elizabeth performed a wreath laying ceremony.
Queen Elizabeth historic visit to Ireland - Day Two (part two) - Visit to Guinness Storehouse
Day two of the sovereign's historic trip began with a visit to the Guinness Storehouse, where she and Prince Philip watched "the perfect pint" being poured.
The Duke jokingly asked: "Is it made with Liffey water?" referring to the river running through the Irish capital.
Both the royal visitors declined the offer of trying the beverage, though Philip is said to have gazed longingly at the pint before he moved on.
Pictured viewing the Dublin cityscape in the Gravity Bar at the Guinness Storehouse Dublin, with television host Ryan Tubridy.
Queen Elizabeth historic visit to Ireland - Day Two (part one) - Visit to Government Buildings
As part of her visit to Ireland, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II today visited Government Buildings to meet Taoiseach Enda Kenny. Btw, Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. Enda Kenny was appointed only two months ago, in March 2011.
According to wikipedia, at its origins, this building that was to become Government Buildings was the last major public building built under British rule in Ireland. The foundation stone for the building was laid by King Edward VII in 1904. It was built on the site of a row of Georgian houses that were being controversially demolished one by one as the new building was erected. The building itself was designed by Sir Aston Webb, a British architect who was later to redesign the facade of Buckingham Palace. The final completed building was opened by King George V in 1911.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Queen Elizabeth historic visit to Ireland - Day One (part two)
The Queen laid a wreath for those who died in the battle for Irish independence this afternoon during her historic state visit to Ireland. Dressed in white after changing out of an emerald green outfit, the monarch paid her respects in the Garden of Remembrance as the Irish tricolour flew at half mast.
The British national anthem was also played as the monarch stood beside Irish President Mary McAleese at the site where Ireland commemorates the men and women who died resisting British rule. Nearby some minor fights broke out as protesters clashed with police - but despite the unrest the Queen ploughed on unperturbed.
The Queen, dressed in ivory, and Irish President Mary McAleese, arrive to lay a wreath in the Garden of Remembrance this afternoon
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