Barack Obama Once Encountered a Furry Friend at Buckingham Palace — and It Wasn’t a Corgi!

If there was ever a relationship to aspire to, it's the glorious love of Barack Obama and Michelle Obama. The power-couple are the picture of solidarity and a recent revelation from a novel penned by Barack's former national security advisor may just hint at the key to the couple's lasting love — keeping the occasional secret from each other.

The book, The World As It Is: A Memoir of the Obama White House, by Ben Rhodes details the Obamas' 2011 sleepover at Buckingham Palace. Rhodes recalled Barack's awe over spending time with Queen Elizabeth and how he sweetly likened her to his dear grandmother, Toot. Rhodes also shared how Barack tried to hide an unwelcome visitor from his wife during their palace stay. "I really love the queen," then-President Obama told Rhodes, according to the book. "She's just like Toot, my grandmother. Courteous. Straightforward. All about what she thinks. She doesn't suffer fools."

Barack and Michelle were guests at the palace after attending a state dinner at the Queen's residence. The couple's visit to the palace was deemed a success, despite a surprise intrusion of a rodent in their room, which Barack was reportedly keen to keep a secret from his wife.

According to the book, the president was in his room rehearsing his speech with his aides while the first lady was in another room getting ready to sleep when, suddenly, a butler appeared. "Mr. President, pardon me," the butler reportedly said. "There's a mouse." Barack replied, "Don't tell the first lady." The bulter tried to reasure Barack by saying, "We'll try to catch it, sir." But Barack repeated, "Just don't tell the First Lady," according to the book.

It seems Michelle was none the wiser to the mouse in their room, as she has previously called her stay at the historic palace "a highlight" in her time as the First Lady. Speaking with The Late Show host Stephen Colbert, Michelle said the chefs at Buckingham Palace can cook-up a mean midnight snack. "I do remember ordering some fries," she said. "They were good. They have good fries at the palace." We're sure those pesky palace mice enjoy the fries too, when they're not dodging the chase of the corgis!

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This post was written by Bettina Tyrrell. It originally appeared on our sister site, Now to Love.