The Obamas And The Royal Wedding: Were They Invited?

There was much speculation about whether Barack and Michelle Obama would be invited to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in 2018. The couple had a close friendship, and it was rumoured that Harry and Markle were keen to invite them. However, it was later confirmed that the Obamas would not be in attendance. A Kensington Palace spokesperson stated that no official list of political leaders was required for the wedding, and that the ceremony would be limited to close friends and family.

Barack and Michelle Obama were not invited to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's 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 decision was likely due to diplomatic reasons, as the British royal family has historically remained politically neutral. The size of the venue was also a factor, as the couple chose to invite only 600 people to the wedding.

Despite the Obamas' close friendship with Prince Harry, their connection to the White House prevented them from landing a spot on the guest list. However, sources said that Harry and Meghan were "very much looking forward to seeing them soon."

The Royal Household decided not to invite political leaders

A Kensington Palace statement read:

> "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 made to keep the wedding low-key, and to avoid causing offence to any political leaders, as Prince Harry is not a direct heir to the throne. The couple was also conscious of the fact that Meghan Markle had been a vocal critic of Donald Trump, and so the decision was made to avoid inviting any politicians at all.

Royal biographer Duncan Larcombe commented that the decision was made for diplomatic reasons, and that the British royal family has historically remained politically neutral. He added that the Foreign Office typically advises inviting foreign royals, dignitaries, and diplomats to royal weddings, but that no heads of state were invited to the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011.

A Palace source confirmed that the couple was still on good terms with the Obamas, and that they were "very much looking forward to seeing them soon".

The Obamas were reportedly looking forward to seeing the couple soon

Although Barack and Michelle Obama were not invited to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding, the couples shared a close friendship. The Obamas were reportedly looking forward to seeing each other soon.

The decision not to invite the Obamas was not seen as an insult. The couple chose to exclude all political leaders from their guest list, including President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May. This decision was made after speculation that Harry was not able to invite his friend, President Obama, as it would seem like a slight to Trump.

A Kensington Palace spokesperson confirmed that no politicians would be 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."

Despite the Obamas not being invited, sources reported that Harry and Meghan were still on good terms with the former president and first lady and were "very much looking forward to seeing them soon".

Harry and Meghan's wedding was not an official state occasion, and as Harry is not a direct heir to the throne, there was no requirement to invite political leaders.

The wedding was treated as a family event, not a state event

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was treated as a family event, not a state occasion. This meant that the couple was not required to invite political leaders, either from the UK or abroad, to their wedding. 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."

This decision was in keeping with the precedent set by previous British royal weddings, where sitting US presidents were not invited. For example, President Obama was not invited to the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011 due to the added security costs his presence would have incurred.

The choice to limit attendees to close friends and family was also characteristic of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's desire to keep things low-key, breaking with the tradition of grand British royal weddings attended by world leaders and politicians.

Some world leaders could still be invited to the wedding based on their personal relationship with the couple, rather than their official position. Foreign royals would also be invited if they were friends with the couple.

The Obamas' connection to the White House prevented them from being invited

The Obamas were not invited to the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. While Barack Obama and Prince Harry were known to be close, the Obamas' connection to the White House prevented them from being included on the guest list.

A Kensington Palace spokesperson confirmed that no official list of UK or international political leaders would be invited to the wedding. This was because Harry is not the direct heir to the throne, and therefore "`official guests` such as heads of state were not necessary".

This decision was made in consultation with the royal household and the UK government. A royal source added that while the Obamas would not be in attendance, the couple were "looking forward to seeing them soon".

The decision not to invite the Obamas may have been influenced by a desire to avoid offending President Donald Trump, who was also not invited. It was speculated that not inviting the Obamas could help maintain political neutrality and avoid potential security concerns.

The exclusion of the Obamas from the wedding guest list sparked some controversy, with some speculating that it could be perceived as a diplomatic snub. However, it is worth noting that it is rare for American presidents to attend royal weddings, even when invited.

Frequently asked questions