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When Obama Met William (Again)

by Jenny Hollander

Now, Prince William and President Obama aren't quite Dennis Rodman and Kim Jong-un-level best buds — and, thank God, the comparison ends there — but they're getting there. On Monday, Obama sat down with Prince William for a chat, three years after visiting Buckingham Palace in London and getting to know William's mother, the British queen of 59 years. Monday saw Will and Obama sitting down with tea and scones to discuss Kate's morning sickness, Sasha and Malia's understandable grumpiness about turkey pardoning, and why you shouldn't wear tan suits.

OK, I made that up. William actually stopped by the Oval Office to chat about protecting endangered species, a few hours before the two are scheduled to speak at the World Bank's conservation conference, the International Corruption Hunters Alliance, later Monday. The British royal family frequently speaks out about wildlife conservation — William and Harry's late mother, Princess Diana, was a fierce advocate for the cause — although, last year, Morrissey blasted William as a "thickwit" for doing so while enjoying trips hunting deer and wild boar. Still, it must be said, neither animal is remotely endangered.

Anyway, the prince penned an article for the UK Huffington Post that went live Monday, calling for a "truly international approach to tackling illegal wildlife trade."

Today I will address delegates at the World Bank on the illegal wildlife trade, which is a subject extremely close to my heart. I am honoured to have the opportunity to speak at such an influential forum, given the World Bank's prominence and rich history in global development and in addressing some of the world's most pressing problems.
I will be highlighting the link between corruption, wild and natural resource crime and illicit trade. Corruption remains one of the most persistent and damaging impediments to the alleviation of poverty and, I believe, one of the most insidious forms of corruption in the world today is the illegal wildlife trade.

According to the BBC, the two made time to catch up, too. Of the birth of his first son, George, William told Obama: "The excitement of the event and everything else was just chaos." He also dropped in that 2015 was set to be a "busy year." Kate is due next April.

The last time the two couples met was back in 2011, just months after Kate and William married. It's difficult to put into words just how incredible both Michelle and Kate looked that day, so here are some photos.

WPA Pool/Getty Images News/Getty Images
WPA Pool/Getty Images News/Getty Images

William and Obama looked essentially the same on Monday. I suppose William has less hair now.

So where was Kate, you ask? Well, Prince George has been left behind in England — to the chagrin of New York residents, and by that I mean me — and the princess had work of her own to do, touring a child development center with NYC mayor Bill de Blasio's wife, Chirlane McCray.

Images: Getty Images (2)