President Barack Obama and King Carl XVI Gustaf at their audience in Stockholm on the morning of September 5th 2013
Queen Silvia has met the Obamas before when she dropped into The White House back in 2009 as part of her work for her children's foundation. For King Carl XVI Gustaf this is yet another activity in the month when he marks his 40th jubilee and the man must be flagging by now. He's been touring and talking and visiting and smiling non stop for the last two weeks and we've still got ten days to go until the actual big anniversary. Plus there's a new grandchild to get ready for and the ongoing possibility of another royal wedding for his son and one time heir. Let's hope President Obama brought him some bath salts or a foot spa as a present. This king needs a rest.
President Obama smiles politely as the King of Sweden tells him how much his feet hurt after a super busy fortnight ahead of his jubilee
The visit also means that the president and his wife have almost a complete set of meetings with Europe's monarchs - only newbies Philippe and Mathilde are missing from the set though to be fair, Willem-Alexander and Maxima met the Obamas before they became king and queen. Probably the most famous royal meeting came in 2009 with Elizabeth II which caused all kinds of chatter when Mrs Obama put her arm around the queen in response to a back pat from the monarch herself. It was the only time in the queen's long reign that anything like it had happened and it got people very excited indeed.
The cuddle that caused a controversy - the Queen and her new BFF Michelle Obama at a palace reception in 2009
Arms and hands got more tongues wagging when the Obamas revisited the royals of Windsor in 2011. This time it was Michelle's muscles and Kate's that got the press coverage with Mrs Obama showing off her legendary toned arms in a tight fitting pink jacket while Kate flashed her superslim wrists in a sleeveless Reiss dress that then went clothes shop viral. William and the president just hung out in a state room in suits while the girls did the talking and the smiling.
The great arm off of 2011 - Kate's superslim vs Michell's muscles
More hands and arms on a private visit to Spain in 2010 when for perhaps the only time in her royal career, Princess Letizia extended her stay in Mallorca so she could have lunch with Michelle Obama when she popped by the Marivent Palace as part of her private holiday on the island. King Juan Carlos swooped in for the First Lady's hand with one of those chivalrous kisses that he and Prince Charles do so well while the Princess of Asturias hung around on the palace steps looking slightly awkward until her father in law lined everyone up.
A kiss for a First Lady - the King of Spain greets Michelle Obama on her visit to Marivent in 2010.
Juan Carlos met President Obama at a working lunch at the White House in February 2010 where they were joined by the then Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, for bilateral talks with a focus on South America.
King Juan Carlos got shrimp and apple pie prepared by a top Spanish chef for lunch when he went to The White House in February 2010 -seen here with President Obama and Hillary Clinton
The president has also welcomed Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and his wife, Maxima, to the White House. They were among the first royals to meet Barack Obama after his first election victory, popping by in September 2009 for talks. The president, who has fought plenty of battles over healthcare since taking power, praised the Dutch model of medical help during the chat.
Michelle Obama went for Orange to welcome the future head of the House of Orange on his visit to The White House in 2009
Not long after that meeting with the future Dutch monarchs, the Obamas met the future Danish monarchs alongside the present queen of Denmark when they stopped by the Fredensborg Palace on their way to the IOC meeting in Copenhagen which decided the venue for the 2016 Olympic Games. The Obamas were there to back the Chicago bid which lost out Rio ultimately. But they did get to hang out with Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik who looked suitably jolly throughout the whole meeting.
Prince Henrik takes his time to join the conversation as Queen Margrethe II of Denmark greets the President of the United States on his visit to Copenhagen in October 2009
But it's the Norwegian royals who give the House of Windsor a run for their money when it comes to great photos with the Obamas. Alfred Nobel stipulated that while the prizes for physics, chemistry and literature should be handed out in Stockholm, the winners of the Peace Prize which bears his name should get their award in Oslo. And so the decision to award the 2009 prize to Barack Obama meant a trip to Norway for the new First Couple and lots of snaps with them and Harald's brood. And it was the king who stole the show - with a smile and open armed gesture that got everyone giggling. That King Harald takes a great photo.
King Harald looked delighted at his meeting with President Obama ahead of handing him his Nobel Prize for Peace in 2009
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