President Donald Trump and his wife Melania were not invited to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in 2018. The couple decided not to invite any political leaders, neither from the UK nor internationally. This was also the case for Barack and Michelle Obama, despite their closeness to Harry. Trump's controversial comments about Princess Diana and Kate Middleton, as well as Markle's public criticism of Trump, may have also played a role in the decision.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Date of the wedding | 19 May 2018 |
Bride and groom | Meghan Markle and Prince Harry |
Reason for not inviting Donald Trump | No political leaders were invited to the wedding |
Reason for not inviting Barack Obama | No political leaders were invited to the wedding |
Donald Trump's response | "Not that I know of" when asked if he had received an invitation |
Donald Trump's gift to the couple | Donation to one of the seven charities the couple chose in lieu of gifts |
What You'll Learn
- Donald Trump was not invited to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding
- No political leaders were invited to the wedding
- Trump's controversial comments about Princess Diana may have influenced the decision
- Trump's absence avoided causing offence to Barack Obama
- Trump sent the couple a gift despite not being invited
Donald Trump was not invited to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding
"Her Majesty's Government was consulted on this decision, which was taken by The Royal Household," the spokesman said. This decision was likely due to Harry not being a direct heir to the throne, so he didn't have to host political figures.
In an interview with Piers Morgan on ITV, 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, saying, "I want them to be happy, I really want them to be happy. They look like a lovely couple."
Trump's absence from the wedding may have been influenced by diplomatic concerns. Royal biographer Duncan Larcombe suggested that inviting the Obamas but not Trump could cause problems for the British government in terms of foreign diplomacy. Additionally, Trump did not have a personal relationship with Harry, as they had never met in person, and Trump had made controversial comments about Princess Diana and the Duchess of Cambridge.
Markle, an American-born citizen, had also been a staunch supporter of Hillary Clinton and had publicly dismissed Trump's rhetoric, calling him "divisive" and "misogynistic." Despite not being invited, Trump and the First Lady, Melania, honoured the couple with a gift, donating to one of the seven charities the couple had suggested in lieu of gifts.
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No political leaders were invited to the wedding
The decision to exclude political leaders from the wedding guest list was likely influenced by diplomatic concerns. There were concerns that inviting former US President Barack Obama, with whom Prince Harry had a close relationship, while excluding then-US President Donald Trump, could cause issues for the British government in terms of foreign diplomacy.
In addition, Prince Harry may have chosen not to invite political leaders due to his personal preferences. As he was not a direct heir to the throne, he had more flexibility in the guest list for his wedding. NBC News correspondent Keir Simmons reported that "people in Harry's circle" indicated that the prince was "absolutely in charge of everything" and decided not to invite any politicians.
The exclusion of political leaders from the wedding also avoided potential controversies. Markle had publicly criticised Trump, calling him divisive and misogynistic before she met Prince Harry. Trump had also made lewd comments about Harry's late mother, Princess Diana, and his sister-in-law, the Duchess of Cambridge.
Despite not receiving an invitation to the wedding, Trump and his wife, Melania, honoured the couple with a gift. They made a donation to one of the seven charities selected by the royal couple in lieu of gifts.
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Trump's controversial comments about Princess Diana may have influenced the decision
Trumps' controversial comments about Princess Diana may have influenced the decision
Donald Trump and his son, Don Jr., made some controversial statements about Princess Diana while promoting his book, "Letters to Trump". In an interview with Breitbart, Trump claimed that all the celebrities featured in the book, including Princess Diana, had "kissed [his] ass". This prompted a strong reaction from Princess Diana's brother, Earl Charles Spencer, who revealed that his sister considered Trump "worse than an anal fissure".
Trump has a history of making lewd and inappropriate comments about Princess Diana. In a 1997 interview with Howard Stern, Trump said that he "could have" had sex with Princess Diana and even acted out an imaginary scenario in which he asked her to take an HIV test. In a 2000 interview with Stern, Trump doubled down on his comments, saying that he would have slept with Princess Diana "without even hesitation". He went on to describe her as a magnificent and "supermodel beautiful" woman, revealing that he had seen her "a couple of times" in person.
These comments, along with Trump's lack of a personal relationship with Prince Harry and the potential diplomatic concerns, may have influenced the decision not to invite the Trumps to the royal wedding. While it is customary for foreign political leaders to not be invited to royal weddings, the decision to exclude Trump may have been influenced by his controversial remarks about Princess Diana and his complicated history with the royal family.
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Trump's absence avoided causing offence to Barack Obama
Trumps' Absence Avoided Causing Offence to Barack Obama
The decision not to invite Donald Trump to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding was likely influenced by diplomatic concerns and the couple's personal preferences. By not inviting any political leaders, the couple avoided causing offence to former US President Barack Obama, who shared a closer relationship with Harry.
Harry and Meghan's wedding was a significant event in 2018, and the guest list was a highly anticipated topic. Notably, President Donald Trump's absence from the guest list raised questions. While no political leaders were invited, the decision carried diplomatic implications, especially regarding US-UK relations.
Barack Obama enjoyed a closer relationship with Prince Harry, having worked together on the Invictus Games. Obama also sent a congratulatory tweet to the couple when they announced their engagement. On the other hand, Trump had never met Harry in person and had a history of controversial comments about the royal family, including Princess Diana and Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge.
The potential "snub" of inviting the Obamas but not the Trumps could have caused diplomatic issues between the US and the UK. By excluding all political leaders, Harry and Meghan avoided offending Trump and creating tensions with the US administration.
Additionally, Meghan Markle, an American herself, had publicly criticised Trump during his presidential campaign. She referred to his rhetoric as "divisive" and "misogynistic" and even suggested she might stay in Canada if he won the election. It is understandable that the couple would prefer to celebrate their special day with guests they know and respect, rather than political leaders with whom they may have had differences.
The royal couple's decision to exclude political leaders from their wedding guest list was a thoughtful one. By doing so, they avoided potential diplomatic issues and ensured their wedding remained focused on their celebration of love and commitment.
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Trump sent the couple a gift despite not being invited
Despite not receiving an invitation to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding, Donald Trump and his wife Melania sent the couple a gift. The Trumps were not invited to the wedding, along with other political leaders, due to Harry's position in the royal family. As he is not a direct heir to the throne, the wedding was a more intimate affair.
Trump commented on his lack of invitation in an interview with Piers Morgan, saying, "not that I know of" when asked if he was invited. He also wished the couple well, stating, "I want them to be happy, I really want them to be happy." He also said that they looked like a lovely couple.
Although Trump did not attend the wedding, he and the first lady honoured the couple with a gift. White House spokesperson Lindsay Walters confirmed that the Trumps would be making a donation to one of the seven charities that Harry and Meghan had suggested to guests and well-wishers in lieu of gifts. These charities benefit causes close to the couple's hearts, including women's empowerment, conservation, the environment, homelessness, and the Armed Forces. It is unknown which charity the Trumps donated to.
In addition to the charitable donation, there was speculation that the Trumps might also gift the couple a bowl, following the tradition of U.S. heads of state giving bowls to royal family members as wedding presents.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Donald Trump and his wife Melania were not invited to the wedding.
It was decided that an official list of political leaders, both UK and international, was not required for the wedding. Harry and Meghan's wedding was much more intimate than that of Harry's brother, the Duke of Cambridge, who was married in a lavish Westminster Abbey ceremony attended by dignitaries, heads of state, and foreign royals.
Donald Trump responded with kind words for the couple, saying, "I want them to be happy, I really want them to be happy. They look like a lovely couple." The Trumps also honoured the couple with a gift, making a donation to one of the seven charities the couple had suggested to guests and well-wishers in lieu of gifts.