Quite the powerful pair! Prince William and President Obama got together in Washington, D.C. on Monday, Dec. 8.
The Duke of Cambridge, 32, made a quick stop in the nation’s capital after arriving in New York City on Sunday night, and before returning to the Big Apple for an evening engagement. He spoke with President Obama, 53, in the Oval Office of the White House.
Both men wore navy blue suits for the auspicious occasion and were pictured sitting on luxe leather armchairs together in front of a portrait of George Washington. Prince William paired his suit with a sky-blue collared shirt and a red tie, while President Obama opted for a white shirt and a blue printed tie.
As they chatted, Prince William spoke to President Obama about his son Prince George, 16 months, and the second child that he and the Duchess are expecting.
“Last time, I remember when George was born, I forgot to actually work out whether it was a boy or a girl,” William could be heard telling the POTUS. “The excitement of the event and everything else was just chaos. You are suddenly… ‘Well actually it’s a boy.”
“It’s going to be interesting next year,” he added. “A busy year, next year.”
The two leaders spent time together before the Prince addressed delegates at the World Bank, speaking about a matter he is highly invested in. Kate Middleton‘s husband was pegged to give a speech about illegal wildlife trafficking, a subject he wrote about in a Huffington Post column on Monday.
“Today I will address delegates at the World Bank on the illegal wildlife trade, which is a subject extremely close to my heart,” the royal wrote. “I am honored 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.”
“Many people might wonder why conserving wildlife should be considered so important when there are wider issues of global and national interest, such as conflict and poverty to worry about,” Prince William continued. “The answer is because these issues are interlinked. Wildlife crime goes well beyond just a threat to endangered species but also has impacts on our society, economy and security. It undermines efforts to uphold the rule of law, acts as an agent for corruption, creates a barrier to development and fuels global instability.”
The need to address wildlife trafficking was just one of the subjects on the agenda for President Obama and Prince William. The Harvard-educated politician visited the UK this past September, and planned to connect with Prince William about the trip.
“The President looks forward to thanking The Duke of Cambridge for the hospitality shown to him by the Royal Family during the President’s recent visits to the United Kingdom,” the office of President Obama’s Press Secretary said in a release this past weekend. “This visit underscores the special relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom.”
Prince William reunites with his pregnant wife in New York City on Monday night, where they will take in a basketball game at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. The Duchess of Cambridge, 32, stayed in Manhattan for her own events on Monday.
