america. this is bbc news america reporting from washington. barack obama is giving a royal welcome by london but tough issues aren t far away. the president away, the u.s. has a forceful case over what it will take to achieve middle east peace. the border will be different than the one that existed on june 4, 1967. israel will not return to the indefensible boundaries of 1967. and ash, ash, go away a volcanic plume causes hundreds of flights to be cancelled but passengers hope that aviation officials have learned lessons from the last time. welcome to bbc on pbs around america and around the globe. it is not just a special relationship but an essential one, how barack obama described the ties between britain and america as he and first lady michelle kicked off their two-day visit in london. it is only the second time during the queen s reign that the u.s. has a full state visit. the obamas attended a star-studded banquet at buckingham palace. our royal correspondent
welcome to bbc on pbs around america and around the globe. it is not just a special relationship but an essential one, how barack obama described the ties between britain and america as he and first lady michelle kicked off their two-day visit in london. it is only the second time during the queen s reign that the u.s. has a full state visit. the obamas attended a star-studded banquet at buckingham palace. our royal correspondent has been following all the day s events. for years, the americans shied away from this kind of palace pomp and ceremony, which is why remarkably, this is only the second state visit by a u.s. president, but this evening, a relationship between two nations which have done so much together was celebrated at the palace in style. mr. president, i m delighted to welcome you and mrs. obama to london. at a state banquet, the queen recalled how the united states had come to the aid of europe in two world wars. she said america remains britain s most impo