Bush surrounded by family

For a third time, Bush family members gathered to see one of their own sworn in as president.

When George Bush stopped to shake the hand of his father, it was the hand of a former president. When he paused to greet his wife Laura, he was kissing a practised first lady.

Bush’s twin daughters were only 11 when their grandfather took the oath of office. They were 19, and hesitant to step forward to the podium, when their father took his first presidential oath.

This time, they appeared relaxed and confident as their mother held a family Bible beneath President Bush’s hand.

Afterward, the president’s wife, Laura, and daughters Jenna and Barbara, gathered about him, and he gave each of the twins a kiss.

Mrs Bush stood out in a luminous white embroidered cashmere coat, with a boucle wool dress beneath. She wore gloves but no hat, despite the near-freezing temperatures.

The twins, who sported spaghetti straps and dipping necklines at Wednesday night’s Texas-style ball, chose conservative designer suits for the swearing-in.

Barbara’s pale blue cashmere trench coat covered a lemon grass silk and chiffon blouse and wool skirt by Derek Lam. Jenna shivered slightly in a beige Oscar de la Renta trouser suit under a matching boucle wool embroidered coat.

The family’s boldest fashion statement came from their grandmother, white-haired former first lady Barbara Bush, who slung a regal red winter wrap across a bright blue dress.