Michelle Obama may have been the star of the US President’s European show, but Turks were deprived of the chance to see her when she chose to return to her children instead of accompanying her husband to Ankara and Istanbul.

The US president began his visit yesterday by laying a wreath at the tomb of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkish state, before travelling to the presidential palace for talks with President Abdullah Gul.

Michelle Obama, however, returned to the US on Sunday.

“My daughter was really looking forward to seeing her,” said Ayse Tastan, a cleaning lady. “She particularly liked the little ones. It's a real shame she didn’t come here. It’s only two more days.”

A White House spokesman said that Mrs Obama had always planned to go home to see her children, who went back to school last week after spring break. “She wanted to be back home on Sunday night ahead of the kids' school,” he said.

The Turkish media have been following Michelle Obama’s European visit with interest, carrying stories of her dress and exploits, including her protocol-breaching hug of the Queen.

A picture of her at the G20 summit in London, standing next to Emine Erdogan, the wife of the Prime Minister, Tayyip Erdogan, attracted mixed emotions, however, since Mrs Erdogan’s Muslim headscarf is viewed with distaste by secular Turkey’s establishment, which fears that she creates a negative, over-conservative view of the nation seeking membership of the EU.

"I bet she decided not to come because she didn’t want to be involved with our headscarved crowd," said Cigdem, 39, an accountant. “Who would? I'm glad we don't have to watch her posing side by side with them here."

Two years ago the Turkish government was brought down by public protest and legal manoeuvrings when it first attempted to elect current President Abdullah Gul, whose wife also wears a headscarf.

Members of Turkey’s establishment, including the military, which is the self-appointed defender of secularism, still often boycott receptions and dinners if there is the danger they may have to consort with women in headscarves. The Muslim headscarf is generally not allowed in Turkish universities, parliament and public offices.

Political columnist and broadcaster Taha Akyol dismissed any idea that Michelle Obama would have any hidden reason for not coming.

“It would have been much nicer if she had come, but this is just a short visit designed to convey a message, with a very full programme that would not really justify the involvement of spouses,” Mr Akyol said.

Arzu Kaprol, a leading Turkish Fashion designer, said: "It’s a shame and a disappointment, since she is known to be interested in alternative fashion and not so tied to US brands, so I would have liked her to see Turkish fashions and perhaps have a chance to be influenced by our work here.”

“They make a very interesting couple in the White House, and when Obama came alone everyone felt there was something missing,” said writer Ipek Calislar, who has written a revisionist biography of Turkey’s original First Lady, Latife, who was for two years married to Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey.

Making up a little for Mrs Obama’s no-show was Hillary Clinton’s visit here early last month. Her appearance on a Turkish television chat show about women, which included unembarrassed, if oblique, comments about her husband’s romantic adventures and her own lack of fashion sense endeared her to the public.

Feminist researcher Dr Leyla Pervizat said Mrs Obama’s decision to go home to the children was a loss.

“Michelle Obama is lovely. Like Princess Diana, she helps you forget life,” she said.

Times Recommends

• New York has lost its edge
• Copenhagen will fail – and quite right too
• More than 17,000 new underwater species found