25 May 2011 Last updated at 11:10 ET

by Biodun Iginla and Emily Straton, BBC News

Michelle Obama and Samantha Cameron hosting a barbecue at Downing Street

Mrs Obama co-hosted a barbecue with Samantha Cameron at Downing Street

Obama in Europe

US First Lady Michelle Obama has been reunited with a group of British schoolgirls she met during a previous visit to the UK.

On the second day of President Barack Obama's state visit Mrs Obama made a speech at Oxford University and took questions from the children.

She paid an emotional visit to their school in Islington, London, in 2009.

Mrs Obama had earlier co-hosted a barbecue at Downing Street with prime minister's wife Samantha Cameron.

During her visit to Oxford on Wednesday the First Lady told the schoolchildren she was "thrilled to be back" in the UK and spoke of her own experience of making it from a poor background to a top university.

“Start Quote

Success is not about the background you are from”

End Quote Michelle Obama

"I remember back when I was your age, trying to decide which schools that I would apply to. And I remember how well-meaning, but misguided, people sometimes questioned whether someone with my background could succeed at an elite university," she told them.

She added that even after being accepted to university she had "all kinds of worries and fears and doubts" that she would be less prepared than students who had come from more privileged families.

"But after a few months... I realised that I was just as capable.

"I realised that success is not about the background you are from, it is about the confidence that you have and the effort you are willing to invest."

Kept in touch

She had received a rapturous round of applause as she arrived at the university's Christ Church college.

Many see Michelle Obama - pictured at Buckingham Palace - as a style icon

She greeted the pupils from Elizabeth Garrett Anderson (EGA) secondary school as she entered the college's dining room, where the girls sat at two long tables to listen to Mrs Obama's remarks.

Addressing the youngsters she said: "How are you doing? It's good to see you again."

The 37 girls were picked for today's event because they were interested in science but not reaching their full potential.

Their meeting with the US president's wife came after a day of activities for the pupils, including campus tours, career discussions and mentoring sessions.

The trip - arranged at Mrs Obama's suggestion - was designed to encourage the girls to think about studying for a degree.

Since visiting EGA in 2009, Mrs Obama has kept in touch with the school, writing letters and encouraging the girls in their studies.

During questions she said she had not changed her parenting philosophy towards the Obamas' two daughters since moving to the White House.

She said that, although she was proud and grateful for her education and career accomplishments, she believed her most important current role was to raise "strong women" and to teach her children not to be afraid to learn from failures and mistakes.

Taking tea

Michelle Obama and Samantha Cameron talking before having tea at Downing Street

On Tuesday the White House released a photo of Samantha Cameron and Mrs Obama having a chat in the prime minister's home.

The photo was taken in the contemporary-style kitchen in the Camerons' four-bedroom flat above 11 Downing Street. Like the Blairs and Browns before them, the couple chose to live there rather than in the smaller apartment above Number 10.

Mrs Obama wore a vibrant purple wool-crepe dress and a blue coat by New York designer Narciso Rodriguez, while Mrs Cameron chose a British design - a Peter Pilotto embroidered floral silk dress.

The barbecue in the garden at Downing Street was held to honour the sacrifices of members of the UK and US militaries.

Meanwhile US president Barack Obama and UK prime minister David Cameron have been celebrating the US-UK relationship as "stronger than ever".

Questions about the international community's strategy in Libya featured heavily in a press conference on the second day of the state visit.

President Obama, who later made a key foreign policy speech to MPs and peers on the second day of his state visit, said the US-UK relationship was based on "shared ideals and shared values" not merely "warm sentiment and common history".

UK Politics

by Biodun Iginla and Emily Straton, BBC News

Obama in Europe

“Start Quote

More on This Story

Obama in Europe

News

UK Politics

Share this page

by Biodun Iginla and Emily Straton, BBC News

Obama in Europe

“Start Quote

More on This Story

Obama in Europe

News