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| Prince Philip turns chauffeur to drive Obamas to lunch | Prince Philip turns chauffeur to drive Obamas to lunch |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Duke of Edinburgh, 94, turned chauffeur when he ferried the US president and first lady to lunch at Windsor Castle. | The Duke of Edinburgh, 94, turned chauffeur when he ferried the US president and first lady to lunch at Windsor Castle. |
| As Barack and Michelle Obama touched down in the castle grounds in their helicopter, Marine One, waiting to greet them was the Queen, wearing a floral headscarf to protect against a chill wind, and her husband Philip in a casual raincoat. | As Barack and Michelle Obama touched down in the castle grounds in their helicopter, Marine One, waiting to greet them was the Queen, wearing a floral headscarf to protect against a chill wind, and her husband Philip in a casual raincoat. |
| After greeting the Obamas with a firm handshake, Philip gestured them towards the waiting Range Rover before clambering into the driving seat. The president hopped in the front with him, while the Queen and first lady sat in the back. | After greeting the Obamas with a firm handshake, Philip gestured them towards the waiting Range Rover before clambering into the driving seat. The president hopped in the front with him, while the Queen and first lady sat in the back. |
| Marine One had landed on the golf course of the estate next to the castle walls, so the drive was only about 400 yards. | |
| As the two heads of state and their spouses arrived safely at the castle, Obama appeared to move as if to offer the Queen assistance in disembarking the Range Rover, but she navigated her own exit. Onlookers thought she had said something to the president about often having trouble stepping down from that vehicle. | As the two heads of state and their spouses arrived safely at the castle, Obama appeared to move as if to offer the Queen assistance in disembarking the Range Rover, but she navigated her own exit. Onlookers thought she had said something to the president about often having trouble stepping down from that vehicle. |
| The Queen and president than walked toward the steps of the castle, while the first lady, who had chosen an Oscar de la Renta dress and Narciso Rodriquez coat for the occasion, waited for the prince. | The Queen and president than walked toward the steps of the castle, while the first lady, who had chosen an Oscar de la Renta dress and Narciso Rodriquez coat for the occasion, waited for the prince. |
| Initially there seemed to be some confusion among the US media, who landed in Marine Three minutes before the president, and who appeared to have forgotten UK vehicles have their driving seats on the opposite side to those in the US. “Is Obama driving?” they were heard exclaiming, before realising it was, in fact, the elderly prince. | Initially there seemed to be some confusion among the US media, who landed in Marine Three minutes before the president, and who appeared to have forgotten UK vehicles have their driving seats on the opposite side to those in the US. “Is Obama driving?” they were heard exclaiming, before realising it was, in fact, the elderly prince. |
| Philip, 95 next month, is a very experienced driver of both vehicles, and, famously, horse-drawn carriages. | Philip, 95 next month, is a very experienced driver of both vehicles, and, famously, horse-drawn carriages. |
| If the president’s security detail harboured any nervousness about the age of the driver, they did not betray it as the royal couple and the leader of the free world and his wife headed off for a private lunch. | If the president’s security detail harboured any nervousness about the age of the driver, they did not betray it as the royal couple and the leader of the free world and his wife headed off for a private lunch. |
| They were followed by the president’s 11-car motorcade for the brief journey. | They were followed by the president’s 11-car motorcade for the brief journey. |
| There were no complicated driving manoeuvres required. While the prince and the Queen were waiting to greet the Obamas’s helicopter, their car had conveniently been turned around by a member of staff, thus negating the necessity for Philip to turn it round himself or, even trickier, reverse it back up the drive. Once inside the castle, the four posed for a photograph in the Oak Room in the Queen’s private apartment. | There were no complicated driving manoeuvres required. While the prince and the Queen were waiting to greet the Obamas’s helicopter, their car had conveniently been turned around by a member of staff, thus negating the necessity for Philip to turn it round himself or, even trickier, reverse it back up the drive. Once inside the castle, the four posed for a photograph in the Oak Room in the Queen’s private apartment. |
| On the day after her 90th birthday, this was to be an intimate lunch attended only by the Queen, Philip, and the Obamas. The president and his wife have developed a close bond with the royals since Obama came to office, and the Queen hosted them at Buckingham Palace during their 2011 state visit to the UK. | On the day after her 90th birthday, this was to be an intimate lunch attended only by the Queen, Philip, and the Obamas. The president and his wife have developed a close bond with the royals since Obama came to office, and the Queen hosted them at Buckingham Palace during their 2011 state visit to the UK. |
| On another occasion, the first lady was seen putting an arm around the monarch’s waist. | On another occasion, the first lady was seen putting an arm around the monarch’s waist. |
| On Friday evening, the Obamas will be guests at a private dinner hosted by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry at Kensington Palace. | On Friday evening, the Obamas will be guests at a private dinner hosted by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry at Kensington Palace. |