David Cameron Gives Barack Obama A Tennis Table, Gets BBQ In Return

Ping Pong And Barbies: Camerons And Obamas Exchange Gifts

In their exchange of gifts today, David Cameron and Barack Obama each chose reminders of the US President's successful state visit to the UK last year.

The prime minister presented Obama with a Dunlop table tennis table, complete with US and UK flag bats, to memorialise their game of ping-pong at a south London school during last year's trip.

And the president responded with a barbecue grill, which will bring back memories of their session flipping burgers for guests from the Armed Forces in the Rose Garden at 10 Downing Street.

The carefully selected gifts indicate the meticulous attention to detail which has gone into preparing for this week's official visit, compared with Gordon Brown's trip in 2009, when the then prime minister presented Obama with a piece of timber from a former slave ship and received a box of DVDs in return.

Samantha Cameron presented Michelle Obama with a blue Jonathan Saunders printed scarf, from the Cruise '12 collection inspired by Victorian wallpapers.

And the First Lady gave Mrs Cameron a crystal honey vase with honey collected from the South Lawn of the White House, along with chamomile seeds harvested from the White House kitchen garden.

The Obama children received a set of classic British stories from Puffin and Penguin, while Nancy, Arthur and Florence Cameron were each given bean-bags with their name and the presidential seal embroidered on them.

Downing Street described the table tennis table as "something the whole Obama family can enjoy" and a fitting sporting gift in the run-up to the 2012 London Olympics.

The Camerons' Braten 1000 Series Grill by Engelbrecht Grills and Cookers of Paxton, Illinois, was engraved with US and British flags and had a personalised plaque mounted on the lid.

It came complete with two White House chef jackets, each featuring American and British flags and the Great Seal, with David and Samantha Cameron's names embroidered on their individual jacket.

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