Prince William Makes First Ever Visit to Washington
President and Duke of Cambridge met to discuss the illegal wildlife trade.
— -- Prince William has made his first ever visit to the Oval Office.
President Obama and the Duke of Cambridge met this morning to discuss the illegal wildlife trade, a cause William is promoting on his brief trip to the U.S., and which will be the subject of his address to the World Bank later in the day.
The two sat talking quietly in the Oval Office as the crush of U.S. and foreign press swarmed into the room, snapping photos and shouting questions. The president was heard to say the words "very important" but he ignored all other questions.
Obama and William met before in 2009 on the president’s state visit to the United Kingdom, and again this year at the D-Day anniversary ceremony. The Obamas have sent an alpaca baby blanket and a custom-made rocking horse as gifts for Prince George, the son of Prince William and Kate Middleton.
William is also expected to meet separately with Vice President Joe Biden while at the White House.
While brief, the White House last week posed the future British king's visit to the Oval Office as a symbolic one, "underscoring the special relationship" between the U.S. and Britain, as White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters. For his part, William is seen as taking on an expanded role in foreign affairs with this trip, burnishing his diplomatic credentials by taking on the wildlife-trade issue.