The First Family met Queen Elizabeth and the royal newlyweds Kate and William at Buckingham Palace Tuesday as President Obama began his first state visit to the United Kingdom. Obama received a 42-gun salute the same day his op-ed written with Prime Minister David Cameron in the Times of London was published; it asserted the "essential relationship" between their two countries to advance their shared values, "a perfect alignment of what we both need and what we both believe." The two leaders will meet Wednesday and discuss the Middle East, but before all that serious stuff happens, what we all want to see are the cool pictures of the Obamas hanging out with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Brits will get a chance to glimpse of the Obamas as they lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior. And judging by the local newspapers, they're very excited about this visit. The Telegraph and the Times are liveblogging all the ceremony, for example, the Daily Mail has an in-depth analysis of the ladies' fashion (headline: "The Royal clash: Michelle Obama and the Queen are a little too well-matched in floral (as Catherine comes up trumps in nude dress)"). Tuesday evening the Obamas will return to Buckingham Palace for a banquet. They'll stay the night there.

Obama inspects the guard of honor with Prince Phillip.

The Obamas meet Queen Elizabeth.

Michelle Obama with the Queen; the first lady with Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge.

The Obamas with the Queen and Prince Philip watching the Guard of Honor at, apparently, a windy Buckingham Palace.

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Elspeth Reeve