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First Ladies meeting royals: Melania Trump, Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton and more

November 6, 2017
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The history of royalty and America's first ladies is filled with memorable anecdotes and historic photo ops, from the time Jackie Kennedy's style upstaged Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace to Melania Trump's first-ever meeting with a British royal – charming Prince Harry, who seems to be a first lady favorite!Click through to see a photo gallery of some momentous meetings between royals and first ladies, from the 1960s until today. MELANIA TRUMP AND EMPRESS MICHIKOOn November 6, 2017, First Lady Melania Trump had a royal moment with 83-year-old Empress Michiko of Japan. Melania – who was visiting the country with her husband, President Donald Trump – enjoyed a chat at with the Empress at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. This was Melania's third brush with royalty – she met with Prince Harry in Toronto and Queen Rania of Jordan in Washington, D.C. earlier in the year.Photo: ISSEI KATO/AFP/Getty Images
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MELANIA TRUMP AND PRINCE HARRYWhen Harry met Melania! During her first solo foreign trip since becoming America's first lady, President Donald Trump’s wife sat down for a royal meeting with Prince Harry in September 2017 ahead of the 2017 Invictus Games Toronto opening ceremony. “It was an introductory meeting,” Stephanie Grisham, the first lady’s communications director, told HELLO!. “They spoke at length about the success of the Invictus Games and the men and women who serve their countries.”Photo: Getty Images
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MELANIA TRUMP AND QUEEN RANIA OF JORDANIn her first meeting with a royal, First Lady Melania Trump chatted with Queen Rania of Jordan during a stroll through the White House West Colonnade. On the same day, President Donald Trump held a joint press conference with King Abduallah as the two met to discuss the Middle East peace process and other issues. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images
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MICHELLE OBAMA AND KATE MIDDLETONDuchess Kate and the first lady had a tête a tête at Kensington Palace in April 2016. Kate and husband Prince William, joined by young son Prince George, hosted a dinner for President Obama and his wife at their home. Photo: Dominic Lipinski - WPA Pool/Getty Images
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MICHELLE OBAMA AND PRINCE HARRYIn October 2017, Michelle Obama demonstrated that her family's friendship with Prince Harry, is still going strong. The former first lady welcomed the British royal to Chicago, where he took part in the Obama Summit. Mrs Obama posted this photo to Instagram with the caption: "Thanks to my friend Prince Harry for joining me today to surprise these remarkable students at Hyde Park Academy on the South Side. We were blown away by their passion, ambition and talent! #ReachHigher #ObamaSummit".Photo: Instagram/@michelleobama
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MICHELLE OBAMA AND PRINCESS CHARLENE OF MONACOBoth fans of sports, First Lady Michelle Obama came face-to-face with former Olympic swimmer Princess Charlene of Monaco during a luncheon for first ladies at the Studio Museum in Harlem in September 2013. Heads of state and delegates were gathered in NYC for the UN's annual General Assembly meeting. Photo: Lee Celano/Getty Images
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LAURA BUSH AND CAMILLA, DUCHESS OF CORNWALLPrince Charles and Duchess Camilla's eight-day visit to the US in November 2005 included this black-tie dinner at the White House hosted by President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura. Both the Duchess and the President's wife wore floor length gowns in autumnal hues for the celebration.Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images
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HILLARY CLINTON AND EMPRESS MICHIKO OF JAPANThe former Secretary of State and senator was in her first high profile role as first lady when she joined Empress Michiko of Japan in June 1994. The two watched the welcoming ceremonies at the White House as the Empress and Emperor Akihito kicked off a 16-day visit to the United States. Photo: JOSHUA ROBERTS/AFP/Getty Images
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BARBARA BUSH AND PRINCESS DIANAThe very popular Princess of Wales charmed President George HW Bush's wife Barbara during a visit to the White House in October 1990. While the first lady wore her signature pearl necklace, Diana donned a pink suit with purple accents by one of her favorite designers, Catherine Walker.Photo: Jayne Fincher/Princess Diana Archive/Getty Images
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NANCY REAGAN AND QUEEN ELIZABETH IIBoth the first lady and the Queen were away from home for this meet-up in February 1983. Both wearing glam evening gowns on the red carpet, the two were attending a concert in Long Beach, California. The jaunt was the Queen's first visit to the West Coast of the United States.Photo: Anwar Hussein/Getty Images
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NANCY REAGAN AND PRINCESS DIANAPrince Charles and then-wife Princess Diana famously visited the US in November 1985, and one of the most memorable events was a black-tie gala with President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Mrs Nancy Reagan at the White House. Along with Diana's black off the shoulder gown, the evening is also remembered for the moment the Princess took a spin on the dance floor with actor John Travolta.Photo: Tim Graham/Getty Images
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BETTY FORD AND QUEEN ELIZABETH IIHat's quite a portrait! The British monarch and President Gerald Ford's wife both wore stylish headwear for their meeting in July 1976. The first lady was showing Queen Elizabeth around the White House during the royal's official visit to the U.S. in honor of the American Bicentennial celebrations. Photo: David Hume Kennerly/Getty Images
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JACQUELINE KENNEDY AND QUEEN ELIZABETH IIIt was a historic moment on June 5, 1961 as Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip hosted President John F Kennedy and First Lady Jackie Kennedy at Buckingham Palace – and for more reasons than one! Not only was it a landmark visit, but it also was an early example of royal style and first lady fashion becoming a story in and of itself. Many royal watchers at the time debated whether glamorous Jacqueline's silk Chez Ninon dress upstaged the monarch's Norman Hartnell creation. Photo: PNA Rota/Getty Images
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ELEANOR ROOSEVELT AND THE BRITISH ROYAL FAMILYReady for a MAJOR throwback? Here's a classic photo from April 1948 as the British royals met with First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of President Franklin D Roosevelt, on the terrace at Windsor Castle. From left to right: Prince Philip and his wife, then-Princess Elizabeth (the future Queen Elizabeth II), Queen Mary, King George VI, Mrs Roosevelt and Queen Elizabeth, the monarch's wife who would become the Queen Mother. Photo: Hulton Archive/Getty Images

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