THE OBAMA'S meet the Queen at Buckingham Palace & Westminster Abbey

Barack Obama is to meet the Queen at Buckingham Palace, as the US president's state visit to Britain formally begins to cement what the countries' elected leaders describe as "an essential relationship".

The palace said the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who have returned from their honeymoon in recent days, will also meet the president and the first lady, Michelle Obama.

Duchess Catherine shared a laugh with Michelle Obama as she and Prince William met with the President and First Lady at Buckingham Palace.

Michelle Obama dazzled in a glamorous white evening gown at a state dinner at Buckingham Palace. The First Lady's elegant look, accented with long white opera gloves, is drawing comparisons to another First Lady

Barack Obama arrived in the UK from Ireland on Air Force One late on Monday, earlier than planned, to avoid the volcanic ash cloud moving south-east from Iceland. He stayed at the US ambassador's residence in central London ahead of a day of royal protocol with most of the hard talking on global politics with David Cameron expected on Wednesday.

There was one small misstep during the formal dinner, when the President toasted Queen Elizabeth II.

The band began playing "God Save the Queen" just as the President began his toast. Word is, no one is supposed to raise their glass before the Queen 0_o

The prime minister is hopeful the two leaders can assert that they are aligned on tackling financial deficits as well as addressing Libya, the Arab spring and Afghanistan.

 

The palace said the Obamas would meet the new royal couple in the 1844 room for around 10 minutes before the formal welcome begins in the garden, where they will be greeted by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall. There will be a ceremonial welcome from the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, and the Obamas will then view the royal picture gallery.

After the palace, the Obamas appeared at Westminster Abbey to lay a wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Warrior before meeting David and Samantha Cameron at Downing Street. They are also expected to meet the opposition leader, Ed Miliband, at Buckingham Palace where they will stay after a formal dinner.

Royal watchers will be hoping for a repeat of the famous embrace between the Queen and America's first lady, when the Obamas last visited in 2009.
{Source}

Read More

HOT SHOTS: Hip-Hop Inaugural Ball II - TERRENCE J, LALA VASQUEZ, ELLE VARNER, TYSON BECKFORD, ANGELA SIMMONS, ROSARIO DAWSON & MORE

A ton of celebs are showing support this past weekend as we celebrate the Inauguration of our former and current president, Barack Obama as he took oath to office earlier today. Among his supporters John Legend feels that hip-hop played its part in helping Barack Obama become president, and he's proud at how the genre has matured over the years.

"I think hip-hop had a role in making sure we elected a black president in America because we made it so that black people were in people's homes ... through our music and through our culture," the R&B crooner said Sunday night at the Hip-Hop Inaugural Ball.

Legend was awarded the humanitarian award at Sunday's event, and it was one of many honors handed out at the Harman Center for Arts.

Hip-hop pioneers MC Lyte and Doug E. Fresh were both given lifetime achievement awards. Fresh even hit the stage, beat boxing while comedian-actor-singer Wayne Brady cooed Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On?" At one point, Brady even busted out his own rhymes.

Rapper Yo Yo earned a roaring cheer when she hit the stage to honor MC Lyte; Lil Mama also paid tribute to the "Ruffneck" rapper.

2 Chainz, who had a breakthrough year with his Grammy-nominated solo debut and multiple rap hits, earned the street soldier award for encouraging young voters as a spokesperson for the Hip-Hop Caucus' "Respect My Vote!" campaign.

"Doing my thing on the charts is one thing, but to be getting honored on another avenue, it just feels like a blessing," he said in an interview. "I'm keeping my head leveled and staying humble."

Actress Rosario Dawson won the vanguard award for her work as chairman of the Voto Latino organization.

"It's time to step out of the shadows. It's time to not just be talked about by other people, it's time to take the leadership ourselves and that first step of leadership is voting," Dawson said of the importance of the Latino vote.

Rappers Swizz Beatz and Meek Mill also earned honors at the event, attended by a few hundred hip-hop fans, including model Tyson Beckford, former NBA star Dikembe Mutumbo and Victor Cruz of the New York Giants. La La Anthony and Terrence J hosted the ball.

British singer Marsha Ambrosius also delivered a rousing performance, and playful jokes about Obama.

"I got a call from the president and he asked me to perform his favorite song," she said before singing the R&B jam "Hope She Cheats on You (With a Basketball Player)."

Then she sang "Butterflies," a song she co-wrote for Michael Jackson's 2001 "Invincible" album.

"This might have been his favorite," she said.

{Source}

Check out more photos from the event below!!

Victor Cruz

Michael Eric Dyson

Angela Simmons

Kenny Lattimore

Model Shanina Shaik and Tyson Bedford attend The Hip-Hop Inaugural Ball II at Harman Center for the Arts on January 20, 2013 in Washington, DC.

Lil MaMa & MC Lyte backstage

Lance Gross

Actress Sonja Sohn attends The Hip-Hop Inaugural Ball II at Harman Center for the Arts on January 20, 2013 in Washington, DC.

John Legend's fiance, Model Chrissy Teigen

Actor Charles Dutton

Rapper Jadakiss

Actress Denyce Lawton

Read More

PHOTOS/VIDEO: 2011 White House Correspondents' Association Dinner

 

At last year’s White House Correspondents’ dinner, president Obama split sides the old-fashioned way — landing well-timed, dryly delivered, punchlines that lit up everybody from Joe Biden to the JoBros.

On Saturday night, when he wasn’t hurling barbs at Donald Trump, the President hitting the play button. His 20-minute speech was heavy with A.V.-oriented chuckles, a la Bill Clinton’s “The Final Days.”

 Obama stepped up to the podium accompanied by footage of a throbbing birth certificate. There was a mock-trailer for “The King’s Speech,” which spoofed his teleprompter dependency. Somewhere in the middle he projected a snippet from the first five-minutes of “The Lion King,” claiming it to be his birth-video. “I want to make it clear to the Fox News table: that was a joke. That was a children’s cartoon,” quipped Obama. “Call Disney if you don’t believe me, they have the long-form version.” Take a look at the video and more pics below. {SOURCE}

 

US President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama arrive on stage at the annual White House Correspondent's Association Gala at the Washington Hilton hotel April 30, 2011 in Washington, DC.

Gayle King attends the 2011 White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 30, 2011 in Washington, DC.

Jeremy Piven attends the 2011 White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 30, 2011 in Washington, DC.

Kerry Washington attends the 2011 White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 30, 2011 in Washington, DC.

Will.i.am attends the 2011 White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 30, 2011 in Washington, DC.

Comedian Seth Myers and Alexi Ashe attend the New Yorker White House Correspondents' dinner pre-party at The W Hotel, rooftop on April 29, 2011 in Washington, DC.

Model Christine Teigen (L) and musician John Legend arrive at the MSNBC Correspondents' after party with FIJI Water at Embassy of Italy on April 30, 2011 in Washington, DC.

Cee Lo Green arrives at the MSNBC Correspondents' after party with FIJI Water at Embassy of Italy on April 30, 2011 in Washington, DC.

Russell Simmons (L) and Lyor Cohen (R) attend the TIME/CNN/People/Fortune White House Correspondents' dinner cocktail party at the Washington Hilton on April 30, 2011 in Washington, DC.

Cee Lo Green performing

Read More

WHAT THEY WORE: Alicia Keys in Michael Kors & Katy Perry in Rodarte

Singer Alicia Keys performs during the Public Inaugural Ball at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on January 21, 2013 in Washington, DC. U.S. President Barack Obama was sworn in for his second term earlier in the day. 

Alicia wore a gorgeous red Michael Kors Fall 2012 gown.

Her long-sleeve crystal-embellished gown dawned an open back and knotted waist was styled with silver jewels.

Alicia performs 'Girl On Fire'

Musicians John Mayer and Katy Perry were also spotted attending the presidential inauguration on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol January 21, 2013 in Washington, DC. Barack Obama was re-elected for a second term as President of the United States.

The singer wore a Rodarte Fall 2012 orange-and-black woven coat with a shearling collar, which she wore with a rust-and-black sequined tulle collared dress from the same collection. 

Read More