The First Lady in London for the Opening of the 2012 Olympics

First Lady Michelle Obama speaks during a breakfast with Team USA at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

-----AP Photo/Darron Cummings

Oh, my goodness, the United Kingdom, they’ve had a phenomenal year. I mean, they’ve pulled off a major wedding, a Diamond Jubilee and now, the Olympics. They know what they’re doing. So we’re just excited to be here, and I am just honored to be able to represent the United States. I mean, truly that’s what this is all about. It’s about these athletes and the stories that they tell. The inspiration that they transmit to the rest of the world, particularly kids in our country.”

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 27: First Lady Michelle Obama addresses members of the 2012 Team USA at the University of East London on July 27, 2012 in London, England. Michelle Obama addressed members of the 2012 Team USA as leader of the US Olympics delegation, ahead of opening ceremony for the Olympics.

----Adam Jacobs/Getty Images

Michelle Obama preps Team USA ahead of Olympics

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London 2012 Olympics: Are you watching Mitt? Michelle Obama gives a fun masterclass in diplomacy :

As a lesson in good natured statesmanship - if not to say simple manners - it was a masterclass.

For Michelle Obama cast aside stuffy protocol to join in the fun and games to celebrate today’s opening of the Olympic games with more than 1,000 children.

The First Lady met the children - most of them from U.S. military families - in the grounds of Winfield House, the official residence of the U.S. ambassador in London.

She was joined by David Beckham and Olympic gold-medal sprinter Carl Lewis who signed autographs.

She said: “I’m so excited,” after jogging to the stage as a marching band played the University of Florida fight song.

“I am thrilled to be here on London for the 2012 Olympic games. I am proud to be leading the U.S. delegation to the opening ceremony.”

Mrs Obama, who later tried out sports including tug-of-war and football alongside the children, offered a tribute to military families who had been invited to take part in the event.

“The military families who are joining us from U.S. bases that are stationed here in the U.K., we are so grateful for your service because you all sacrifice so much - you as kids, your mums, your dads,” said the First Lady. “You sacrifice so much for this country and we are so very proud of you.”

U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama poses with the Team USA women's basketball team following an athletes breakfast in London July 27, 2012.

-----REUTERS/Mark Blinch

U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama embraces a member of the Team USA women's basketball team during an athletes breakfast in London July 27, 2012.

----REUTERS/Mark Blinch

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 27: Retired gymnast Dominique Dawes (L) introduces First Lady Michelle Obama (R) on July 27, 2012 in London, England. Michelle Obama addressed members of the 2012 Team USA as leader of the US Olympics delegation, ahead of opening ceremony for the Olympics.

----Adam Jacobs/Getty Images

US First Lady Michelle Obama (C) poses with members of the US Olympic team as she visits their Olympic base in east London on July 27, 2012 ahead of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

----CARL COURT/AFP/GettyImages

U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama gestures as she arrives at a Team USA athletes breakfast in London July 27, 2012.

-----REUTERS/Mark Blinch

U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama greets Team USA basketball player Candace Parker during an athletes breakfast in London July 27, 2012.

---REUTERS/Mark Blinch

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 27: Members of the 2012 Team USA prepare to meet First Lady Michelle Obama at the University of East London on July 27, 2012 in London, England. Michelle Obama addressed members of the 2012 Team USA as leader of the US Olympics delegation, ahead of opening ceremony for the Olympics.

----Adam Jacobs/Getty Images

US First Lady Michelle Obama joggs to the stage to speak during "Let's Move-London" event at the Winfield House in London on July 27, 2012, hours before the official start of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

--- JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/GettyImages

US First Lady Michelle Obama plays tennis during "Let's Move-London" event at the Winfield House in London on July 27, 2012, hours before the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

---JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/GettyImages

British footballer David Beckham kicks the ball during US First Lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move-London" event at the Winfield House in London on July 27, 2012, hours before the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

----JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/GettyImages

British footballer David Beckham (L) looks at US First Lady Michelle Obama kicks a ball during "Let's Move-London" event at the Winfield House in London on July 27, 2012, hours before the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

---JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/GettyImages

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 27: (L-R) First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama and David Beckham celebrate Nickelodeon joins Let's Move for 'Let's Move London' event at the American Ambassadors Residence, Winfield House, Regents Park on July 27, 2012 in London, England.

-----Tim Whitby/Getty Images For Nickelodeon

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 27: (L-R) David Beckham, Nickelodeon's Spongebob Squarepants, Brandi Chastain and First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama celebrate Nickelodeon joins Let's Move for 'Let's Move London' event at the American Ambassadors Residence, Winfield House, Regents Park on July 27, 2012 in London, England.

----Tim Whitby/Getty Images For Nickelodeon

US First Lady Michelle Obama plays with children during "Let's Move-London" event at the Winfield House in London on July 27, 2012, hours before the official start of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

----JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/GettyImages

US First Lady Michelle Obama poses with US athlete team members during "Let's Move-London" event at the Winfield House in London on July 27, 2012, hours before the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

----JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/GettyImages

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 27: First Lady Michelle Obama arrives for a reception at Buckingham Palace for Heads of State and Government attending the Olympics Opening Ceremony at Buckingham Palace on July 27, 2012 in London, England.

------ Chris Jackson/Getty Images

U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama (L) arrives at Buckingham Palace with U.S. Ambassador to the UK Louis B. Susman (2nd L) as they are greeted by Sir David Walker, Master of the Household, in London July 27, 2012. Dignitaries attended a reception hosted by Queen Elizabeth II for the heads of state and government prior to them attending the opening ceremony of London 2012 Olympic Games.

-----REUTERS/Paul Hackett

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 27: US First Lady Michelle Obama and US Ambassador Louis Susman (L) meets Queen Elizabeth II and US Ambassador Louis Susman during a reception at Buckingham Palace a reception for Heads of State and Government attending the Olympics Opening Ceremony on July 27, 2012 in London, England.

----Dominic Lipinski - WPA Pool/Getty Images

U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama (2nd L) and U.S. Ambassador Louis Susman (L) meet Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, during a reception at the Buckingham Palace, London July 27, 2012, to welcome the Heads of State and Heads of Government to the United Kingdom before they travel to the Olympic Stadium for the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

----REUTERS/Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 27: First Lady Michelle Obama and Louis Susman, United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom, arrive for a reception at Buckingham Palace for Heads of State and Government attending the Olympics Opening Ceremony at Buckingham Palace on July 27, 2012 in London, England.

---- Chris Jackson/Getty Images

US's First Lady Michelle Obama, left, and Ambassador Louis B. Susman arrive at Buckingham Palace in London for a reception hosted by Queen Elizabeth II for the heads of state and governments prior to them attending the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games, Friday, July 27, 2012.

----AP Photo/Sang Tan

U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama and U.S. Ambassador Louis Susman arrive at Buckingham Palace in London for a reception hosted by Queen Elizabeth II for the heads of state and government prior to attending the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games, Friday, July 27, 2012.

----AP Photo/Dominic Lipinski, Pool

U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama talks to Prince Albert of Monaco at Buckingham Palace in London at a reception hosted by Queen Elizabeth II for the heads of state and government prior to attending the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games, Friday, July 27, 2012.

----AP Photo/Dominic Lipinski

U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama and U.S. Ambassador to the UK Louis Susman attend a reception at Buckingham Palace, London July 27, 2012, to welcome Heads of State and Heads of Government to the United Kingdom before they travel to the Olympic Stadium for the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

---REUTERS/Dominic Lipinski/Pool

MEANWHILE...The reaction to Willard in London?

You can take Romney out of the United States… What was supposed to be easy breezy trip to Britain — filled with upbeat meetings and presidential-looking photos ops before the Olympics — turned into foreign policy nightmare for the presumptive Republican nominee. With our friends, the Brits.

Romney, who ran the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City, ruffled feathers across the pond after suggesting in a TV interview Wednesday that London wasn’t fully ready for the Games.

"It's hard to know just how well it will turn out," Romney told NBC’s Brian Williams on Wednesday. "There are a few things that were disconcerting,” he said, citing a shortage of security officials.

British Prime Minister David Cameron didn't keep a stiff upper lip over that dig. "We are holding an Olympic Games in one of the busiest, most active, bustling cities anywhere in the world," Cameron said Thursday at the Olympic Park in London. "Of course, it is easier if you hold an Olympic Games in the middle of nowhere." We're pretty sure he was talking about Salt Lake.

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Boris Johnson today issued an Olympics rallying cry in response to Mitt Romney’s dig over London’s appetite to host the 2012 Games.

The U.S. presidential hopeful, who is in the UK on a diplomatic visit, had doubted the British public’s passion for the Olympics in a television interview for U.S. network NBC.

Despite his backtracking today – saying that the Olympics would be ‘a wonderful 17 days’ – the man who could replace Barack Obama as the world’s most important leader found himself singled out as public enemy number one.

Speaking in front of 60,000 assembled in Hyde Park at a concert to mark the end of the Olympic Torch relay, the London Mayor tonight reaffirmed the city’s zeal for the event.

‘There are some people coming from around the world who don’t yet know if we are ready,’ the Mr Johnson roared. ‘There’s a guy called Mitt Romney who wants to know whether we are ready. Are we ready? Yes we are!’

Mitt Romney is already having trouble on what was supposed to be his international debut. It started when Romney criticized the Olympics preparation in London and pondered whether the British people would rise to the occasion. The British Press and London’s mayor were quick to fire back. MSNBC’s Melissa Harris-Perry and Steve Kornacki weigh in.

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Friday, July 27, 2012