Windsor Castle Windsor United Kingdom

GETTY

Outgoing US President Barack Obama is to have lunch with the Queen to celebrate her 90th birthday

The leader of the free world will travel to Britain to meet the planet's most respected stateswoman on his way back from Saudi Arabia just after the monarch's landmark birthday, Buckingham Palace officials said today.

Officials are still waiting to confirm the date of the private lunch at Windsor but it is likely to a day or two after the Queen's birthday on April 21, when Mr Obama will be with Saudi Arabia's 80-year-old King Salman.

Palace officials hope to release more details of the visit to Britain later today but earlier, the White House said Mr Obama would also meet Prime Minister David Cameron during the brief visit.

Officials are still waiting to confirm the date but it is likely to be around April 21st

In a statement, the White House press secretary Josh Earnest said the trip would come before the President's previously announced visit to Germany.

The visit will allow the President to offer his gratitude to the British Government

Mr Obama will go to Saudi Arabia on April 21 to participate in a summit with leaders from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries - Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates - hosted by King Salman.

Mr Earnest said: "The President will then travel to the United Kingdom, where he will be received by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle for a private lunch.

"He also will be hosted by Prime Minister David Cameron at Number 10 Downing Street for a bilateral meeting and joint press conference.

Obama will go to Saudi Arabia in April to participate in a summit with leaders from the Middle East Obama will conclude his mini tour of Europe with a trip to Germany before returning home

"The visit will allow the President to offer his gratitude to the British Government and people for their stalwart partnership with his Administration and the American people throughout his Presidency."