U.S. and U.K. First Ladies Visit Cancer Center

ABC News’ Yunji de Nies reports: First lady Michelle Obama and her British counterpart Sarah Brown spent the morning at Maggie’s Center, a facility for cancer patients in central London.  The two women visited with cancer patients, who told them how the center had helped them through the difficulties of the disease.  Maggie’s Center is a place where cancer patients and their families can gather to receive support, comfort and practical advice. Sarah Brown is the Patron of Maggies and opened this center last April. More than 12,000 people have received care there since then. Obama and Brown also stopped in on the  Look Good, Feel Better program, a beauty parlor/makeup session with two female patients.  Michelle Obama talked about her own "wonderful" makeup artist and said that she [the artist] volunteers for a similar program in the U.S. Some of the center’s staff asked the first lady about the new White House garden.  She explained the layout and added that the first family will also be keeping bees.  One woman acted surprised, to which the first lady laughed, "We have a big lawn." Mrs. Obama was dressed in a green pencil skirt, cream sparkly cardigan, both J.Crew, along with animal print high heels, a double strand of pearls and large diamond earrings.  Mrs. Brown wore a Britt Lintner navy blue dress, Astley Clark jewelry and Russell & Bromley shoes. Mrs. Brown poured tea.  When asked if Mrs. Obama drinks tea, she smiled and said, "I do. I will." "This is pretty amazing. It’s an oasis. An oasis that is necessary for people who are struggling," Mrs. Obama told the center’s staff over a cup of steaming tea."It’s a quiet place that makes people feel whole." As word of the visit spread outside, a large crowd gathered along the hospital gate.  As she left, Michelle Obama waved at the crowd and cameras, and flashed a quick thumbs up. Later today, the first lady will attend a number of teas, which are closed to the press. She will change clothes before her visit with the queen. She will be giving gifts throughout — no word on what she’s picked out for the queen.