Share Tweet Pin Email By Katherine Tinsley 12:16pm PDT, Sep 18, 2025 _ Barack Obama typically adhered to security protocol throughout his presidency, but the former president broke the rules for Queen Elizabeth II during a trip to the U.K.
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MORE: Follow Wonderwall on MSN for more top news _ During Barack Obama and Michelle Obama's trip to the U.K., Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip notified the couple that they would "pop out" and pick them up in a Range Rover from their helicopter.
However, royal author Robert Hardman noted that the security issue became a "very serious row" with the palace. _ "The Secret Service said absolutely no way is that happening. The President can only be driven around by us," Robert Hardman revealed, as Barack Obama and Michelle Obama traveled with their security personnel. "This created a real ding-dong. I spoke to the U.S. staff that had organized the trip, and they said there was a very serious row over which car they were going to go in and who was going to drive it," Robert Hardman said on Daily Mail's "Queens, Kings and Dastardly Things" podcast. _ Despite the Secret Service's concern, Barack Obama was able to accept Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip's offer. "This dilemma went right the way up to Obama himself, who had to decide. He thought, 'Well, it obviously means quite a lot to them, so I'll go in their car,'" Robert Hardman claimed. "Obama flew in and for the only time in his entire presidency, he and the First Lady were driven, not in a bullet-proof, bomb-proof whatever, but in a Range Rover driven by Prince Philip," he continued. _ The interaction between Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip was somewhat casual. "Obama and the Queen were in the back, Philip was at the wheel and Michelle was in the front - and off they went, tootling around the Park," Robert Hardman said. "I'm sure there's some rule about who sits where, but sit wherever you like. It was very cordial and friendly." _ "By that point, the Obamas and the Queen and Prince Philip had seen a lot of each other throughout his presidency," Robert Hardman added. "There was real rapport there by that point." Ron Sachs - CNP for NY Post / MEGA Ian Vogler/Mirrorpix/Newscom/The Mega Agency CJ/WPA/POOL/GI/AAD/starmaxinc.co/Newscom/The Mega Agency Ian Vogler/Mirrorpix/Newscom/The Mega Agency Ian Vogler/Mirrorpix/Newscom/The Mega Agency Ian Vogler/Mirrorpix/Newscom/The Mega Agency Up Next The post Queen Elizabeth once caused a 'serious row' with Obama appeared first on Wonderwall.com.