Michelle Obama, Daughters in London; Can't Keep Visit Secret

First Lady Michelle Obama's East Wing confirmed Monday night what had become an impossible-to-bottle-up secret -- Mrs. Obama and her daughters were in London, following three days in Paris.

Mrs. Obama, her mother Marian Robinson, and Malia, 10, and Sasha, who turns 8 on Wednesday are taking a European vacation, with the First Lady mixing in some official business, attending a ceremony marking the 65th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy on Saturday.

President Obama flew home on Sunday from Paris while the Obama women stayed on in the city, where the First Lady lunched at the Elysee Palace with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his family.

Mrs. Obama's East Wing had initially declined to announce what cities Mrs. Obama would be in on the grounds the visit -- expect for the D-Day ceremony -- was private.

Mrs. Obama arrived in London on Monday morning with her family. "They visited Big Ben and the Tower of London," said Mrs. Obama's spokesman, Semonti Mustaphi. In addition, news photos of Mrs. Obama showed her motorcade leaving the Houses of Parliament after her "unofficial" visit, and she reportedly visited a pub in the Mayfair section of London.

Mrs. Obama also spent time with Sarah Brown, wife of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, at 10 Downing Street. Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Obama have in common young children. The Browns have two sons, John Macaulay and James Fraser, who has cystic fibrosis. The Browns' first child, Jennifer, died in 2002 when she was 10 days old. Mrs. Brown has an interest in maternal health in the developing world.

Mrs. Obama picked a tough day to see Mrs. Brown. On Monday the prime minister was fighting for his political survival.

Bloomberg News reported,"Prime Minister Gordon Brown will remain at the helm of Britain's ruling Labour Party after beating back a rebellion by members unhappy over its worst-ever defeat in voting for the European Parliament.

Confronting dissidents at a two-hour closed-door meeting in Parliament in London late yesterday, Brown won the support of most Labour lawmakers by promising to make unspecified changes to his leadership style and agenda, said six who attended."

It is not known when Mrs. Obama and her family will return to the United States.

The Obama family wowed Paris, visiting the Notre Dame cathedral and the Centre Pompidou museum. On a Saturday night date, the president and first lady ate dinner and lingered at a bistro near the Eiffel Tower, drawing crowds to the streets.

Mrs. Obama will travel with President Obama to Accra, Ghana, on July 10-11.

Tuesday morning note: Corrected for date of Sasha's Birthday. First Lady spokesman Mustaphi said Sasha's birthday is June 10.