Former President of the United States Barack Obama has remembered Queen Elizabeth II as a "gracious" but "no-nonsense" leader in a touching tribute shared on the same day of her state funeral.
Mr Obama took to Twitter to share how lucky he and his wife, Michelle Obama, were to know the Queen, whose state funeral took place today in the capital, London.
“Back when we were just beginning to navigate life as President and First Lady, she welcomed us to the world stage with extraordinary generosity," the former president wrote on Twitter on Monday.
"Our thoughts are with the Royal Family and those mourning her passing"
The former President said on the BBC that the late monarch reminded him "very much" of his grandmother.
The former President said on the BBC that the late monarch reminded him "very much" of his grandmother.
Obama included the video in his message on Monday which was from an exclusive interview with the BBC, which aired last week.
During the visits to Buckingham Palace, Mr Obama said, Her Majesty would show "extraordinary generosity."
On one occasion she extended the invite to Buckingham Palace to Mr Obama's younger daughters.
Upon meeting the two girls, she offered them the unprecedented privilege of taking her personal carriage, commissioned more than 260 years ago for King George III, for a ride through the palace grounds.#
"It was the sort of generosity and consideration that left a mark in my daughter’s lives that’s still there", he continued.
The former president said in the video that despite Queen Elizabeth II's stately presence, she had a very sharp sense of humour and "could not have been more kind or thoughtful to me and Michelle."
Britain’s longest-reigning monarch died on September 8 at age 96 and her funeral was held on Monday at Westminster Abbey, prompting Mr Obama to share the video.
An American procession is set for Wednesday which the Obamas are due to attend along with further former US presidents.
It will be in Washington DC, in collaboration with the British Embassy at the Washington National Cathedral.
Royal author Tom Quinn wrote in his book "Kensington Palace: An Intimate Memoir from Queen Mary to Meghan Markle " that the Queen was enamoured with the Obamas and that she would frequently ask her courtiers "if they could arrange for him to come to Britain now he is no longer president".
