London, May 25 (IANS): Visiting US President Barack Obama got the date wrong by three years when he signed a guestbook at the Westminster Abbey, despite apparently asking the dean what day it was, a media report said Wednesday.
As a tough election looms next year and he faces criticism for his handling of the financial crisis, perhaps he wished it was indeed May 24, 2008, when he was still a rising superstar, the Daily Mail wrote.
It was the second tricky moment of his day Tuesday - as Obama was in the middle of a royal toast when the orchestra seemed to misunderstand a pause and began playing "God Save the Queen" too early, the Mail said.
The visit comes just a month after millions watched as Prince William marry Kate Middleton in the Abbey - an occasion to which the Obamas were not invited.
Following a tradition set by former presidents Richard Nixon, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, he laid a wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, before going into the nave to sign a heartfelt message in the Distinguished Visitors' Book.
After apparently asking the Dean of Westminster, John Hall, for the date, he wrote: "It is a great privilege to commemorate our common heritage and our common sacrifice."
Even the First Lady affectionately stroking his back as he wrote - and then signing the book after him - couldn't stop him making the gaffe.
Later, a spokesman for Westminster Abbey confirmed Obama wrote the date himself.
The incident happened on a day when he was also out of sync with time in a different way. Obama was toasting the queen when the orchestra misunderstood a pause in his speech and believed he was giving them a queue to begin playing the national anthem.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please stand with me and raise your glasses as I propose a toast," Obama said as he picked up his glass. "To Her Majesty the Queen." As he paused, the orchestra began to play and he continued speaking over the music.
The queen looked ahead as the national anthem was being played. Then as he lifted his glass to her, there was an awkward moment and she forced out an embarrassed smile.
However, nobody drank because the anthem was still being played. Only once it had finished did the guests drink the toast, according to the Mail.