Obamas in tourist trip to abbey

Mrs Obama and her daughters Sasha, 10, and eight-year-old Malia enjoyed a crash-course in 1,000 years of English history during their hour-long visit to the abbey.

Fellow sightseers looked on in near open-mouthed amazement as the Obamas "did" Westminster Abbey.

Taken on a private tour by the Dean of Westminster the Very Reverend Dr John Hall, they were shown Poets' Corner, the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior, the Coronation Chair and Henry VII's Lady Chapel.

The presidential cavalcade - minus the president who is back in Washington after the D-Day anniversary - arrived just after 10.30am.

The abbey was then closed to new arrivals but anybody still in there was afforded the extra attraction of the Obama family.

"I couldn't quite believe it when I saw her walking by," said Judy Duvall, from the Obamas' home state of Illinois. "I saw her face and recognised her immediately.

"One of the guys at the abbey had said we should wait against the wall because they were bringing someone in. I said we were from Illinois and he said we should recognise them then.

"Right then I knew it was probably someone from our 'royal family'.

"One of the girls was wearing a long yellow coat - she looked very striking. It was great to see them."

The abbey refused to say when it first knew about the visit although most staff were told at 9am when the US Secret Service arrived to secure the area.

The Obamas and their entourage arrived in bullet-proof Chevrolet Suburban cars. They were then whisked through a back door into the abbey.

One guard said: "We get it all the time because it is such a tourist attraction, but because this was a secret visit we only knew about it just before she arrived. There were quite a few people gathered outside when they saw the police cars everywhere."

Mrs Obama, 45, waved to onlookers as she emerged from the abbey in front of a gathering crowd.

The Obamas are enjoying a two-day private tour of London which yesterday took in Downing Street and the Houses of Parliament.

Last night, eschewing the capital's finest restaurants, they plumped for fish and chips in a London pub.

Staff at The Audley in Mayfair told today of their astonishment as the Obamas traipsed into the old-fashioned boozer, accompanied by secret service agents.

The children chose the fish supper at £7.95 while their mother opted for sirloin steak at £9.15. Before their main course the girls tucked into a cheese platter, washed down with Pepsi Cola.

Mrs Obama shared wine with the adult entourage, who ate burgers.

"We had a booking for a table of 15 but we had no idea it was going to be them," said waitress Cintia Pinto, 24, who served Mrs Obama.

She added: "We were all speechless when they walked in. I couldn't believe it. But they were all very friendly. Smiling and laughing. They made us feel calm.

"The girls were so sweet and polite. They thanked us every time we brought them something. It was a real honour."