Queen Elizabeth sparked 'serious row' with unusual offer to Obama during state visit

Queen Elizabeth II may have been one of the most famous people in the world, but it turns out the US Secret Service treated her just as they would any other, especially when it came to President Barack Obama. In 2016, the late Queen enjoyed a visit from Obama during his farewell trip to Europe.

Obama timed the trip so he would be in Britain to wish Her Majesty a happy 90th birthday, with the pair believed to have had a very good relationship. However, while the trip itself was good, the late Queen caused quite a "serious row" between the Palace and the Secret Service by offering to pick up Obama when the then President landed in Windsor.

This offer, which showed just how close the bond between the royals and Obama had become, was met with some problems.

This is because during his presidency, Obama was only supposed to be driven round by his Secret Service team.

However, the late monarch had offered to pick him up in a Range Rover, which would be driven by her husband Prince Philip.

Talking about what happened on the Daily Mail's Queens, Kings and Dastardly Things podcast, royal biographer Robert Hardman said: "The Secret Service said absolutely no way is that happening. The President can only be driven around by us.

"This created a real ding dong. I spoke to the US staff that had organised the trip and they said there was a very serious row over which car they (the Obamas) were going to go in and who was going to drive it."

He continued: "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.

"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.

"Michelle and the Queen were in the back, Philip was at the wheel and Obama was in the front - and off they went, tootling around the Park."

In his own memoirs, Obama said that as they got in the car, the late Queen told him: "I'm sure there's some rule about who sits where, but sit wherever you like."