Charles Dharapak

First lady Michelle Obama, wearing a hat and sunglasses, center, stands in line at a Target Department store

Mrs Obama was photographed as she left the checkout of the store in Alexandria, Virginia, on Thursday afternoon.

However, the person who took the pictures has been revealed as an Associated Press photographer, who has taken pictures of the First Lady at the White House.

Both the White House and the Associated Press have remained tight-lipped about how photographer Charles Dharapak came to be the only press photographer in the store.