Royal Weddings: Are Sitting Presidents Invited?

While it is not customary for sitting US presidents to attend royal weddings, there has been speculation in the past about whether certain presidents would be invited. For example, in 2018, there was much discussion about whether Barack Obama or Donald Trump would be invited to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding. Ultimately, neither were invited, as the couple chose not to invite any political leaders, either from the UK or overseas.

In 1981, Ronald Reagan was invited to the wedding of Prince Charles and Diana but did not attend

Nancy Reagan's attendance at the wedding caused a stir in Great Britain. One tabloid dedicated its front page to her decision not to bow to the Queen. The Guardian also expressed irritation at her refusal to reveal any details about her wedding outfit until 24 hours before Diana released hers. Nancy Reagan's presence also prompted speculation about where she would sit during the ceremony. "I can't imagine she'd be in the front row," said a palace spokeswoman at the time. "Obviously, there are lots of other people besides Nancy Reagan coming."

President Reagan and Princess Diana met in 1985 when the Prince and Princess of Wales made their first joint visit to the United States. The Reagans hosted a private dinner for the couple at the White House, which was attended by 80 guests, most of whom were selected by the Reagans, with a few suggestions by the Prince and Princess of Wales. The guest list included celebrities such as Neil Diamond, Clint Eastwood, Tom Selleck, and Rear Admiral Alan B. Shepard. The famous photo of Princess Diana and John Travolta dancing together was taken at this dinner.

Barack Obama was not invited to Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding in 2011

It is uncommon for American presidents to attend royal weddings, even when they are invited. In the case of Barack Obama, he was not invited to the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011. This was not unusual, as no heads of state were invited to the wedding.

The decision not to invite Obama sparked speculation and rumours that the Obamas had been "snubbed". However, this was not the case. The wedding was not a state occasion, as Prince William was not yet the heir to the throne, so there was no protocol to invite heads of state.

The Telegraph reported that Obama was not invited "on account of the added security costs his presence would have brought".

It is worth noting that the Obamas were also not invited to the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018. This decision was made because the couple chose to exclude all political leaders, both from the UK and internationally.

Donald Trump was not invited to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in 2018

It is not customary for foreign political leaders to be invited to royal weddings. In the case of Donald Trump, he was not invited to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in 2018. The couple chose not to invite any political leaders, opting instead for a more intimate gathering of family, friends, and members of the public.

A Kensington Palace spokesperson confirmed that an "official list of political leaders—both UK and international— [was] not required" for the wedding. This decision was made in consultation with the British government, likely to avoid causing diplomatic issues.

In an interview with Piers Morgan, President Trump responded, "not that I know of" when asked if he had received an invitation. Despite not receiving an invite, Trump wished the couple well and said he wanted them to be happy.

The odds of Trump receiving an invitation were slim, as he did not have a personal relationship with either Harry or Meghan Markle. Additionally, Markle had been critical of Trump during his 2016 presidential campaign, describing his rhetoric as "divisive" and "misogynistic".

Traditionally, American presidents have not attended royal weddings but have sent notes of congratulations or high-level envoys to represent the US government.

The Obamas were not invited to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in 2018

A Kensington Palace spokesperson confirmed this, stating:

> It has been decided that an official list of political leaders – both UK and international – is not required for Prince Harry and Ms. Markle's wedding. Her Majesty's Government was consulted on this decision, which was taken by The Royal Household.

The decision was likely due to Prince Harry's position as a non-heir to the throne, meaning "official guests" or heads of state were not necessary. The couple reportedly wanted to keep the affair relatively intimate, only inviting guests who knew them personally.

Traditionally, sitting United States presidents do not attend royal weddings. For example, President Obama was not invited to Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding in 2011 due to the added security costs his presence would have incurred. Instead, sitting presidents usually send notes of congratulations or high-level envoys to represent the US government.

There is no expectation that an American president would be invited to a royal wedding

In 1947, President Harry Truman sent a congratulatory note following the engagement of Elizabeth and Phillip. There is no indication that Truman was invited or expected to attend. Instead, he assigned an envoy to represent the U.S. government at the wedding, the ambassador to Great Britain, Lewis Douglas.

Neither President Eisenhower nor his wife, Mamie, were invited to the royal wedding of Queen Elizabeth's sister, Margaret, in 1960. The American ambassador to the U.K. had to convince the president to send a gift. Eisenhower objected because he had never received any formal notification.

The only instance of a sitting president being invited to a royal wedding in the last 75 years was when Ronald Reagan was invited to the wedding of Prince Charles and Diana Spencer in 1981. He did not attend but sent the First Lady, Nancy Reagan, in his stead.

At Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in 2018, no political leaders were invited, including U.S. President Donald Trump, former President Barack Obama, British Prime Minister Theresa May, and Leader of the Labour Party Jeremy Corbyn. A Kensington Palace spokesperson stated:

> It has been decided that an official list of political leaders—both U.K. and international—is not required for Prince Harry and Ms. Markle's wedding. Her Majesty's Government was consulted on this decision, which was taken by The Royal Household.

Similarly, at Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding in 2011, no heads of state were invited, so the Obamas did not attend.

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