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Here comes top-security travelling White House
Paul Thompson30.03.09
WHITE House aides are today putting the finishing touches to President Barack Obama's eagerly anticipated first major foreign trip.
More than six weeks of planning has gone into the visit which begins with the G20 summit in London followed by other European cities.
Mr Obama, who has an entourage of several hundred, has become the most protected president in US history. All 76 seats on Air Force One will be taken by his aides and support staff, including his chef.
As many as 200 secret service agents will be on duty during the three days he is in London.
Secret service agents will create a "sterile area" around the President, with only those approved in advance allowed to come near him.
Many of the agents arrived over the weekend although teams of armed bodyguards have already been in London on at least three occasions to fine-tune security.
The driver of the presidential limo - Cadillac One - arrived last week to familiarise himself with driving on the left. The £300,000 rocket and bullet-proof car was flown to the UK by a US Air Force transport plane.
Some of the 20 vehicles that make up the President's convoy were also flown in. Mr Obama will have what aides call the "travelling White House" - a scaled down version of his secretarial, intelligence and administration support.
The President and his wife Michelle are said to be "nervous but excited" about meeting the Queen at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday.
They will then join other G20 leaders for a reception attended by Prince Charles and Camilla.
At Camp David over the weekend the President spent time with White House head of protocol going over royal etiquette for the meeting.
The President will touch down at Stansted Airport tomorrow and be taken to the US ambassador's residence in Regent's Park.
Accompanying the party will be a total of 500 officials including kitchen staff, 35 vehicles in all, four speech writers and 12 teleprompters.
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