Obama's Wedding Guest List: The Royal Snub?

There was much speculation about whether Barack and Michelle Obama would be invited to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding. The couple were close, and Harry had even attended the first Obama Foundation Summit. However, the Obamas were not invited to the wedding, as it was decided that an official list of political leaders was not required. The British government was also reportedly concerned that inviting the Obamas and not the Trumps could worsen US-UK relations.

Barack and Michelle Obama were not invited to the wedding

> 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 couple decided not to invite any political leaders, from abroad or in the UK, to the event. This was allowed as Prince Harry is not the direct heir to the throne.

There was much speculation as to whether the Obamas would be invited, especially since Prince Harry is friendly with the former president and First Lady. However, it was reported that the couple had been strongly advised not to invite them to avoid offending then-President Donald Trump, who was also not invited.

Royal biographer Duncan Larcombe said that reports of the British government pleading with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to exclude the Obamas were likely true. He added that "diplomacy is very important" and that the couple would be "guided by the Foreign Office's advice."

The couple were excluded for diplomatic reasons

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding was a highly anticipated event, with many speculating about the guest list. The couple had a close friendship with former US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. However, it was later confirmed that the Obamas would not be in attendance at the wedding.

The decision to exclude the Obamas was likely made for diplomatic reasons to avoid causing tension between the UK and the US. As Harry is not the direct heir to the throne, official invitations to political leaders were not required. By not inviting any political leaders, including the Obamas, the couple avoided the potential risk of offending US President Donald Trump, who was also not invited.

Royal biographer Duncan Larcombe supported this notion, stating that the British government likely pleaded for Harry and Meghan to exclude the Obamas to maintain neutrality and avoid political overtones. He added that the Foreign Office typically advises inviting foreign royals, dignitaries, and diplomats to royal weddings, and that the decision to exclude political leaders was made in consultation with the Royal Household.

While the Obamas were not invited to the wedding, sources indicated that Harry and Meghan were looking forward to seeing them soon, suggesting that their friendship remained intact despite the diplomatic considerations.

Harry and Meghan did not invite any political leaders

A Kensington Palace spokesperson confirmed that there would be no official UK or overseas guests at the wedding. This included UK Prime Minister Theresa May, US President Donald Trump, and former US President Barack Obama.

Harry and Meghan's decision was likely influenced by the size of their venue. Their 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.

While Harry and Meghan did not invite any political leaders, they did invite foreign royals who were friends with the couple. The couple's decision to exclude political leaders was in line with the British royal family's tradition of remaining politically neutral.

Harry and Meghan's wedding took place on May 19, 2018, and the couple's guest list included a mix of close friends, family, and foreign royals. The event was highly publicized, with A-listers and celebrities in attendance, and the ceremony was broadcast to millions of television viewers around the world.

The Obamas and the royal couple share a close friendship

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle shared a close friendship with Barack and Michelle Obama. The two couples first bonded over Harry's Invictus Games, a sporting event for injured servicemen and women. Harry visited the Obamas at the White House in 2013 and 2015, and in 2016, he welcomed them to Kensington Palace during a visit to the UK. They also appeared together in a video to promote the 2016 Invictus Games, which even featured the Queen.

Harry and Barack's friendship continued to grow, with Harry interviewing Barack on BBC Radio 4's *Today* programme in 2017, where they discussed the dangers of social media.

Harry's wife, Meghan, and Michelle Obama also formed a close bond. They first met in 2018 when Meghan and Harry wed, and later that year, Meghan attended a talk by Michelle in London, where they had a "long private audience" afterwards. They discussed supporting and empowering women across all communities, as well as shared experiences of pregnancy, raising children, and girls' education. Michelle described Meghan as "a thoughtful leader who is breaking the mold and making our world better for it". In 2019, Meghan interviewed Michelle when she guest-edited British *Vogue* and described her as "endearingly frank and down-to-earth".

The couples also share a mutual friend in Oprah Winfrey, to whom they have both given interviews over the years.

However, their friendship has recently come under scrutiny, as Harry and Meghan were notably absent from Barack Obama's 60th birthday celebrations in 2021. It is unclear if they were not invited or simply couldn't attend, but royal insiders have suggested that the Obamas are being cautious about appearing too friendly with Harry and Meghan due to concerns about public image and out of respect for the Queen. Harry's public criticism of his royal relatives is thought to have soured the Obamas' opinion of the couple.

The Obamas were very much looking forward to seeing them soon

The Obamas were very much looking forward to seeing Prince Harry and Meghan Markle soon. Although the former US president and First Lady did not attend the royal wedding, they were reportedly excited to meet the couple after the wedding craze. Sources close to the couple revealed that they were keen to invite the Obamas to their wedding, but it was speculated that inviting the Obamas without inviting the current US president, Donald Trump, could cause diplomatic issues and strain the relationship between the US and the UK.

Harry and Meghan's wedding guest list was a highly anticipated topic, with many speculating about whether Obama or Trump would be invited. The couple ultimately decided not to invite any political leaders, from the UK or overseas, to their wedding. This decision was made in consultation with Her Majesty's Government and was due to the fact that Harry was not the direct heir to the throne.

Despite not being invited to the wedding, the Obamas and the royal couple shared a close friendship. Harry and Obama had forged a genuine friendship over the years, with the former president and First Lady attending the Invictus Games and the Obama Foundation Summit. Harry had also interviewed Obama for the BBC, and they had exchanged congratulatory messages on social media.

The Obamas' connection to the White House and the potential diplomatic implications were the main reasons they were not invited to the wedding. However, the royal couple still expressed their eagerness to see them soon, indicating that a meeting or get-together may have been planned for the near future.

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