The state visit of the American president got underway yesterday amid pomp, ceremony and protest.

President Bush was officially welcomed amid unprecedented security at Buckingham Palace.

The president later mounted a strong defence of his decision to go to war with Iraq and thanked Britain for its support.

George W Bush hailed the transatlantic alliance - describing Britain as his country's "closest friend in the world".

In the only speech of his state visit, the president insisted that the US would not turn its back on Iraq.

"We did not charge hundreds of miles into the heart of Iraq and pay a bitter cost of casualties and liberate 25 million people only to retreat before a band of thugs and assassins," he said.

The president went on to claim that the Iraq war prevented the United Nations going the same way as the League of Nations.

And he also showed flashes of humour with a speech generally well received by Fleet Street this morning.