Glossy photocalls and charity lunches for the first wives club

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As is traditional on such occasions, the itinerary of the "handbag summit" is likely to involve the spouses, as they are formally known, in glossy photocalls at worthy events.

On Wednesday evening, the night before the summit, after the official reception at Buckingham Palace, the spouses are expected to attend their own dinner, separate from the "working dinner" of the world leaders.

Sarah Brown will have been involved in organising the programme for the following day, 2 April, which may include an event in support of one of the charities she supports. The White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood, which helps mothers and mothers-to-be in 91 countries, has the right kind of global appeal for such an international event. Other events will be almost certainly designed to show London at its best - the tourist pound is always valuable.

Mrs Brown is already acquainted with Michelle Obama and Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, the two other players in what has now become a "power trio" of first wives. The focus will, inevitably, be on Mrs Obama, on her first official visit to London.

The Prime Minister's wife is likely to be less familiar with many of the other spouses attending.

One who will not be there is the chemistry professor husband of German Chancellor Angela Merkel who, probably wisely, makes a habit of not attending such events.

He was perhaps fortunate to miss out on the demonstration in the traditional art of kimono folding, which is said to have entranced the partners of the world leaders gathered at the G8 summit in Japan last year.

Whether London will be able to offer anything comparable will become clearer as further details of the schedule emerge.

Of course, many of the spouses will be anxious to sample the joys of shopping in Bond Street or Harrods. At the moment, it can only be a matter for speculation whether their itinerary will include a trip to the nearest shopping centre to the ExCel centre, the typical East End Rathbone Market in Canning Town. Well, you never know.