A GIFT FROM THE PRESIDENT

BARACK OBAMA GAVE THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND . . . AN IPOD:

You might remember that last month, PRESIDENT OBAMA took some heat after he gave England's Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, a set of classic American movies on DVD . . . which weren't even compatible with British DVD players.

Well, yesterday, Obama reinforced his reputation as a sub-par gift-giver by giving England's QUEEN ELIZABETH a "rare" songbook signed by RICHARD RODGERS (--of RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN) . . . along with an iPod.

Of course, like everybody else in the free world, the Queen already has an iPod . . . which she bought back in 2005 at the suggestion of Prince Andrew. In return, the Queen gave Obama a silver-framed signed photo of herself and the Duke of Edinburgh . . . which is a weird gift in its own right . . . but, apparently, it's what the Queen gives all visiting dignitaries.

Then later in the day, MICHELLE OBAMA contributed to our national embarrassment by breaking royal protocol and putting her arm around the Queen . . . which we've been informed is a big-time no-no. (Daily Telegraph / BBC News / Time)

(--Check out a video of the Obamas in London here. Michelle Obama commits her faux pas at 1:15 . . .)http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7977950.stm