Obama's Royal Invite: Harry And Meghan's Wedding Guest List

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding was a hot topic for speculation, with many wondering if former US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle would be invited. The couple had a close friendship with the Obamas, but it was unclear if they would be included on the guest list. Some sources claimed that the Obamas were invited, while others suggested that they were excluded for diplomatic reasons, particularly to avoid causing a diplomatic row with then-US President Donald Trump, who was not invited. Ultimately, it was confirmed that the Obamas did not attend the wedding, with a royal source stating that the couple looked forward to seeing each other soon.

Harry and Meghan's wedding venue

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were married on Saturday, 19 May 2018, at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in the United Kingdom. The ceremony was a much more intimate affair compared to the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, which took place at Westminster Abbey.

St George's Chapel has a capacity of 800 people, much smaller than Westminster Abbey's 2,000. The chapel, which dates back to the 1300s, has been the site of many royal weddings over the centuries, including Prince Edward's marriage ceremony in 1999, Prince Charles and Camilla in 2005, and Princess Anne's son Peter Phillips' wedding to Autumn Kelly in 2008. The first wedding to take place in the chapel was in 1863 between the future King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra.

The choice of St George's Chapel as the wedding venue was seen as a signal that Harry and Meghan wanted to maintain a relatively low profile as royals. Royal biographer Andrew Morton noted that the couple could have chosen Westminster Abbey, but by opting for St George's Chapel, they indicated that they did not seek the same level of public attention as the future King and Queen of England.

The wedding of Harry and Meghan was notable for its departure from traditional royal family conventions and its inclusion of African-American cultural elements. The couple also requested that, instead of sending wedding gifts, donations be made to seven charitable organisations with which they had no formal association.

The overall cost of the wedding was expected to be around £32 million, with security costs estimated to be between £2 million and £4 million. The event was predicted to boost the British economy by up to £500 million, and later estimates placed the figure at £1 billion, including £300 million from foreign tourists.

The Obamas' friendship with Harry and Meghan

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have a long-standing friendship with former US President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama. The two couples first met in Washington in 2015 and have crossed paths several times since.

Harry and Barack Obama famously enjoyed a basketball match at the Invictus Games in Toronto in 2017, bonding over their shared interest in sports. They also met in the wake of the Manchester attacks to discuss mental health, conservation, empowering young people, and support for veterans. Obama has also interviewed Harry and vice versa.

Harry introduced the Obamas to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 2016, marking the first time the young royals had entertained a head of state privately. The Obamas also visited William and Kate at Kensington Palace, where they played with Prince George and thought he was "adorable."

When Harry and Meghan announced their engagement in 2017, Obama extended warm congratulations to the couple on Twitter, wishing them "a lifetime of joy and happiness together." There was speculation as to whether the Obamas would be invited to Harry and Meghan's wedding in 2018, and it was eventually confirmed that they would not be in attendance due to diplomatic reasons and the small venue size.

Meghan has also formed a close bond with Michelle Obama. She attended one of Michelle's talks in London in 2018, and the two women collaborated on Meghan's 40x40 campaign, which encouraged 40 friends to donate 40 minutes of time for women.

However, there have been reports of a recent distancing between the couples. Harry and Meghan were notably absent from Barack Obama's 60th birthday bash in 2021, which was attended by hundreds of A-listers. It is speculated that the Obamas may be trying to appear "neutral" following the fallout from Harry and Meghan's interview with Oprah Winfrey, in which they made controversial statements about the royal family.

The Obamas' attendance at other royal weddings

The Obamas were not invited to the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011. A Kensington Palace spokesman said that an official list of political leaders was not required for the wedding. A royal source added that the couple looked forward to seeing each other soon. The Obamas were also not invited to the wedding of Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones in 1999, which was notable for the absence of political figures.

However, the Obamas were invited to the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018. The couple chose to invite their own friends, rather than follow the advice of aides. The Obamas' attendance at the wedding caused some controversy, as it was feared that inviting them would outrage then-US President Donald Trump and damage diplomatic ties with the US.

The British government's involvement

The British government was consulted on the decision not to invite political leaders to the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The wedding was held at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, which has a maximum capacity of 900 guests. This is less than half the number of people invited to the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton at Westminster Abbey, where 1,900 invites were sent out.

The Ministry of Defence, alongside the Lord Chamberlain's Office, planned a spectacular day of pageantry for the wedding. More than 250 members of the Armed Forces performed ceremonial duties at the wedding, with details of the regiments and units released ahead of the event. The Royal Mews provided the horses and carriages for the wedding, as they do for other occasions such as Trooping the Colour and Royal Ascot.

The Trumps' attendance at the wedding

Donald Trump and his wife Melania were not invited to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding. A Kensington Palace spokesman confirmed to Harper's BAZAAR that no political leaders, including Trump, would be invited. The spokesman said:

> "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."

In an interview with Piers Morgan on ITV, President Trump responded "not that I know of" when asked if he had received an invitation. Trump also said that Harry and Markle were a "lovely couple" and wished them the best, despite Markle's past criticism of him. "I want them to be happy, I really want them to be happy," he said.

Diplomatic concerns were likely the reason the president of the United States did not receive an invitation, according to royal biographer Duncan Larcombe. Larcombe also believed that Harry was strongly advised not to invite Barack Obama for the same reason. He explained:

> "If the Obamas turned up and Donald Trump was snubbed, then that would cause problems for the British government in terms of foreign diplomacy and the special relationship [between the U.S. and the U.K.]. Harry and Meghan wouldn’t want their wedding overshadowed by that."

Another reason Trump may not have been invited is that he does not have a personal relationship with Harry. In contrast, Obama and Harry have a shared history through the Invictus Games, and Obama sent the couple a congratulatory tweet after their engagement. Trump has not met Harry in person and has not made a presidential trip to the U.K. Larcombe suggested that Harry could argue "he's only inviting people he knows".

Trump also has a complicated history with the royal family, having made comments about Princess Diana and Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, that may not have been well-received by the Queen's family. Markle, too, has been vocal about her dislike of Trump, calling him "divisive" and "misogynistic" in an interview in 2016.

Despite the snub, the Trumps honoured the couple with a gift. White House spokesperson Lindsay Walters confirmed that the president and first lady would make a donation to one of the seven charities that Harry and Meghan suggested to guests and well-wishers.

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