Who Attended Prince Harry's Wedding From The American Presidents?

There has been much speculation over the years about whether American presidents will be invited to British royal weddings. In 2018, when Prince Harry married Meghan Markle, there was much discussion about whether former president Barack Obama or then-president Donald Trump would be invited. Kensington Palace confirmed that the couple chose not to have an official list of political leaders at their wedding. This was in keeping with tradition, as it is not customary for royals to invite foreign political leaders to their nuptials.

Donald Trump was not invited to Prince Harry's wedding

It is not customary for the British royal family to invite foreign political leaders to their nuptials. In the case of Donald Trump and Prince Harry's wedding, the former did not receive an invitation to the latter's wedding. Kensington Palace confirmed that no political leaders, including Trump, were invited. This was because Harry is only fifth in line to the throne, and the venue, Windsor Chapel, is not as big as Westminster Abbey, where Prince William and Kate Middleton got married in 2011.

The odds of Trump receiving an invite were slim, as he does not have a personal relationship with either Harry or Meghan Markle. During Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, Markle criticised his "divisive" and "misogynistic" rhetoric. She also threatened to stay in Canada if he were elected.

Diplomatic concerns may also have played a role in the decision not to invite Trump. If the Obamas had attended and Trump was snubbed, it could have caused problems for the British government in terms of foreign diplomacy and the special relationship between the US and the UK.

Instead of inviting political leaders, Harry and Markle opted to invite 2,640 family members, friends, and public citizens. 1,200 of the guests were invited due to their dedication to civic action in the UK, reflecting the couple's shared passion for humanitarianism.

Barack Obama was not invited, despite being a friend of Harry's

Despite their friendship, Barack Obama was not invited to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding. This decision was made for diplomatic reasons, as the British government did not want to cause issues in foreign diplomacy and the "special relationship" between the US and the UK.

Obama and Harry had forged a genuine friendship over the years. The pair were photographed together at the 2017 Invictus Games, and Harry attended the first Obama Foundation Summit. Obama also sent the couple a congratulatory tweet when they announced their engagement, and Harry interviewed Obama for BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

Royal biographer Duncan Larcombe said that reports of the British government pleading for Harry and Meghan to exclude the Obamas were likely true. He added that the British royal family has historically remained politically neutral, and that Harry and Meghan would be guided by the Foreign Office's advice.

The size of the venue was also a factor in the decision not to invite Obama. The wedding was held at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, which has a maximum capacity of 900 guests. This is less than half the number of people invited to Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding at Westminster Abbey, where 1,900 invites were sent out.

Harry and Meghan's decision not to invite political leaders caused some controversy. Aides advised them to hold back on inviting Obama, as it was feared that this would outrage US President Donald Trump. However, Harry and Meghan chose to do things their own way, inviting their own friends rather than following the advice of aides. Ultimately, the couple decided to keep politics out of their wedding day.

No political leaders were invited to the wedding

The decision not to invite political leaders was made by the royal household, in consultation with the British government. It is not uncommon for American presidents to be excluded from royal weddings. In recent years, presidents have sent notes of congratulations or high-level envoys, rather than attending the weddings themselves.

There were speculations about whether Donald Trump or Barack Obama would be invited to Prince Harry's wedding. Ultimately, neither received an invitation. Trump's absence may have been due to diplomatic concerns and the lack of a personal relationship with the couple. Obama's absence, despite his friendship with Prince Harry, may have been to avoid offending Trump and causing diplomatic issues.

The guest list for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding included family, friends, and members of the public who demonstrated strong leadership and community service. The couple requested donations to charities in lieu of gifts.

The Obamas' absence from the wedding caused speculation

The absence of the Obamas from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding caused much speculation. Some sources claimed that Barack Obama was invited to the wedding, while others reported that neither Barack nor Michelle Obama were on the guest list. This fuelled rumours of a diplomatic snub, as the Obamas have a history with Prince Harry through the Invictus Games, and Barack Obama sent the couple a congratulatory tweet when they announced their engagement.

However, it is not customary for the royals to invite foreign political leaders to their nuptials. A Kensington Palace spokesman confirmed that Harry and Markle had chosen not to invite an "official list" of political leaders, instead opting for family members, friends, and members of the public. Harry is also not in direct line to the throne, so his wedding was not considered a state occasion.

The decision to exclude political leaders from the guest list may have been made to avoid causing offence, as inviting a former president but not the current one could create tension between the UK and the US. It is also worth noting that neither Donald Trump nor British Prime Minister Theresa May were invited to the wedding, further indicating that the nuptials were not a political affair.

Despite the Obamas' absence from the wedding, it is unlikely that their relationship with Prince Harry was affected. The couple has maintained connections with the royal family, and their absence from the wedding was not unexpected given the typical protocol for royal weddings.

The Trumps sent a gift to the newlyweds despite not being invited

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in 2018 sparked curiosity on both sides of the Atlantic, with many wondering if any American presidents would be invited to the royal wedding. The couple decided not to invite any political leaders, including US President Donald Trump and former President Barack Obama.

Despite not receiving an invitation, the Trumps sent a gift to the newlyweds, honouring their request for donations to charity in lieu of gifts. White House spokesperson Lindsay Walters confirmed that the President and First Lady would be making a contribution to one of the seven charities designated by the royal couple. The specific charity chosen by the Trumps was not disclosed.

The decision to exclude political leaders from the wedding guest list was made by Prince Harry, who was in charge of the wedding planning. NBC News correspondent Keir Simmons reported that people in Harry's circle attributed the absence of politicians, including President Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May, to Harry's explicit instructions.

The tradition of American presidents not attending royal weddings is not unusual. In recent history, neither President Donald Trump nor former President Barack Obama attended the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011. Similarly, President Ronald Reagan did not attend the wedding of Prince Charles and Diana Spencer in 1981, although he was invited. Instead, he sent First Lady Nancy Reagan to represent his administration.

While the Trumps were not invited to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding, they graciously honoured the couple's request for charitable donations, continuing a tradition of American presidents acknowledging royal weddings with gifts and well-wishes.

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