Michelle Obama, daughter Sasha, to visit Spain

First lady Michelle Obama will travel to Spain next week with her youngest daughter, Sasha, 9, on a private “mother-daughter” visit. 

According to a White House release, they will be accompanied by unspecified “longtime family friends.” President Obama will not join them, and neither will the couple’s elder daughter, Malia, 12.

The first lady will make an official visit to King Juan Carlos and Queen Sophia of Spain per their invitation, but all activities on the trip are closed to the press.

The trip coincides with President Obama’s birthday, which is Aug. 4. The day after his birthday, the president will travel to Michigan and his hometown of Chicago, visiting auto plants.

The president also revealed in an interview this month that Malia will spend a month at sleep-away camp this year for the first time, although he did not specify where.

Last June, the first lady privately vacationed with both of her daughters and mother in France and England. They visited French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Carla and later met with Sarah Brown, the wife of then-British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Michelle Obama also took Sasha and Malia to the “Harry Potter” movie set for Sasha’s birthday.