They are meeting with the Queen around 12:45 ET. Checking out some reports on the news tells me that Obama is going to get lots of good press out of this event, and both the Pres. and First Lady look great and are representing us well.
Here's video of them arriving at 10 Downing St.:
Here's what Politico 44 said about the press conference for all of us normal folks who were alseep at 5 in the morning. LOL:
LOVEFEST: POTUS, who got tough coverage from the Brit press for what was deemed as insufficient hospitality to PM Brown on his visit to Washington, gushed about his host country in his joint presser with Gordon Brown.
"The thing I love about Great Britain is its people," Obama said in response to a final question from an English reporter about what it is he enjoys most about being in the U.K.
POTUS also cited the "extraordinary affinity and kinship that we have."
"We owe so much to England," he said.
Wrapping up the joint press conference, POTUS remembered one other thing he loves about jolly old England.
No, not the food or the weather -- the Queen.
POTUS praised Her Majesty's "decency and civility" and said he and FLOTUS were looking forward to their meeting later today.
Earlier in the press conference, Obama opened his remarks by taking care to note the "special relationship" between the U.S. and U.K. -- the venerable description and one the Brits were listening to make sure he used.
"We have always emerged stronger by standing together," POTUS said of the two nations. -- Jonathan Martin (7:00 am)
Here's another article on this morning's meeting with Prime Minister Gordon Brown. (BTW, I have my TV on CNN to try to see what I missed, and all they are showing is the protests. Umm, there is other stuff going on CNN! ~turning channel~)
He also met with Russia's President a few minutes ago, pics in the slideshow :o)
I'll update throughout the day :o)
UPDATE Added pics of meeting with China's Pres to the end of the slideshow :o)
UPDATE #2 Pres. and Mrs. Obama just arrived at the Palace, watching live on MSNBC, but I'm sure it's on other channels.
UPDATE #3
Slideshow:
According to the comments, they gave the Queen an iPod :o)
In case you wanted to know more about the meeting and other goings on, here's an article.
UPDATE The Obamas have arrived for the dinner:
More Pre-Dinner photos are in the slideshow
Oh, and I just heard they are sitting with J.K. Rowling, which is pretty cool since Pres. Obama read ALL 7 Harry Potter Books to Malia (which is really impressive to me since I still haven't gotten through the 3rd one ~lol~, and he was campaigning when Book 7 came out). Maybe he can get her autograph for the girls :o)
UPDATE Here's video of the Obamas meeting the Queen:
Update Group Photo with the Queen:
Last Update More pics in the slideshow, including a closeup of Obama in the "class" photo, he is smiling REALLY hard. LOL