Five months after Donald Trump became US President, and at a cost of millions to the taxpayer, Melania and Barron Trump have joined him in the White House.

In a break with the tradition of previous First Families, the 47-year-old former model decided to stay in New York with her 11-year-old son following Mr Trump’s inauguration, so Barron could finish school.

But on Sunday the family finally touched down in Washington DC, arriving on the White House lawn in the Marine One helicopter.

Melania wears a jacket that cost just below an American's median annual salary

Ms Trump later confirmed the move with a tweet of a photo showing a view from the Presidential residence.

“Looking forward to the memories we’ll make in our new home!” she said, adding the hash tag “#Movingday.”

Barron Trump will attend the private St Andrew's Episcopal School in Potomac, Maryland for sixth grade in the autumn.

The First Family's stay in New York is estimated to have cost the US taxpayer at least $17.6m (£13.8m) in security costs.

After Ms Trump returned to Trump Tower on 22 January, a minimum of $127,000 per day (£100,000) has been spent on security for her and Barron, according to Police Commissioner James O'Neill.

The cost is likely to be much higher, as some days the cost rose to $146,000 (£115,000) to protect Melania and Barron, even when Mr Trump was not in town.

President Trump’s older children have had a much higher public profile. His daughter, Ivanka Trump, took an office in the West Wing in March.

She is an influential member of the President’s team, along with her husband Jared Kushner.

Mr Trump’s other sons, Eric and Donald Jr, do not have official government roles and took over the family business when their father took office. They remain vocal supporters. Mr Trump’s other daughter, Tiffany, has maintained a lower profile but attended several of her father's key 2016 campaign events.

Melania Trump stayed largely out of sight during her husband's presidential campaign and was an absent First Lady at the outset of the administration.

But she has slowly been raising her profile at the White House, joining the President when foreign leaders and their spouses visit, co-hosting the annual Easter Egg Roll and holding some solo events.

She recently accompanied Mr Trump on his first foreign trip, a nine-day journey through Saudi Arabia, Israel, Belgium and Italy that marked her first extended turn as First Lady in the public spotlight.

Sevnica: Melania Trump's home town Show all 18 1 /18 Sevnica: Melania Trump's home town Sevnica: Melania Trump's home town The 12th-century castle dominates Sevnica old town Getty Images Sevnica: Melania Trump's home town The old town has a beautiful riverside setting Getty Images Sevnica: Melania Trump's home town 'White House' slippers in Sevnica castle Nick Redmayne Sevnica: Melania Trump's home town The annual salami festival, the Salamiada Nick Redmayne Sevnica: Melania Trump's home town Sevnica was a nondescript town before Melania hit the big time AFP/Getty Images Sevnica: Melania Trump's home town Sevnica butchers take their sausage-making skills seriously Nick Redmayne Sevnica: Melania Trump's home town Only men are allowed in the Salamiada Nick Redmayne Sevnica: Melania Trump's home town As American as.... a Sevnica apple pie Nick Redmayne Sevnica: Melania Trump's home town There are no plans to make a Donald pie Nick Redmayne Sevnica: Melania Trump's home town The slippers featured in a recent fashion show AFP/Getty Images Sevnica: Melania Trump's home town The castle is one of the top tourist sites in town Getty Images Sevnica: Melania Trump's home town Melanija cake has gone down a storm AFP/Getty Images Sevnica: Melania Trump's home town The smart house still owned by Melania's parents Nick Redmayne Sevnica: Melania Trump's home town They live in America but visit occasionally Nick Redmayne Sevnica: Melania Trump's home town The communist block of flats in which Melania grew up Nick Redmayne Sevnica: Melania Trump's home town Melania skin cream, for a presidential complexion Nick Redmayne Sevnica: Melania Trump's home town First lady chocolates, dusted with gold Nick Redmayne Sevnica: Melania Trump's home town Even locals can't get enough of the Melanija cake Nick Redmayne

Now that she is at the White House full time, pressure will build for her to be seen more and to do more. She said during the campaign that she would work on the issue of cyberbullying as first lady, but she has made no further announcements about the subject.

She has also shown an interest in military veterans and empowering women and girls.