Obama At The Royal Wedding: Was He Invited?

There has been much speculation over the years about whether Barack and Michelle Obama would be invited to various royal weddings. In 2011, the Obamas were not invited to the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. The same year, there were rumours that the Obamas would not be invited to the wedding of Prince William's brother, Prince Harry, and Meghan Markle. However, the guest list had not been finalised, and a Kensington Palace spokeswoman said that invitations will be announced in due course. Ultimately, the Obamas were not invited to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in 2018.

The Obamas were not invited to Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding in 2011

Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding was a much larger ceremony at Westminster Abbey, which was attended by many politicians and leaders. William is second in line to the British throne, whereas Harry is sixth in line.

There is also a precedent for US presidents not attending royal weddings. For example, President Truman did not attend Princess Elizabeth's wedding in 1947, and President Eisenhower and first lady Mamie Eisenhower were not invited to Princess Margaret's wedding in 1960.

The Obamas travelled to the UK less than a month after William and Kate's wedding in 2011 for an official state visit and dined with the Queen at Buckingham Palace.

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

The decision not to invite political leaders was made because the wedding was classified as a private event, rather than an official state occasion. Prince Harry is not the direct heir to the throne, so he and Meghan Markle were not required to invite politicians to their wedding.

Prior to the wedding, there had been speculation about whether the Obamas would be invited, given their close friendship with Prince Harry. The former US President and Prince had bonded over the Invictus Games, and Harry had hosted Obama at Kensington Palace in 2017. However, it was ultimately decided that the Obamas would not be in attendance.

The Obamas' absence from the wedding was notable, especially given their close relationship with Prince Harry. However, it is important to note that the decision not to invite them was based on the wedding's status as a private event and the desire to avoid political implications. Ultimately, the guest list for any wedding is at the discretion of the couple getting married, and they may choose to invite or exclude anyone they wish.

The Obamas had a close friendship with Prince Harry

Former US President Barack Obama and Prince Harry first met in Washington in 2015 and have been close friends ever since. They have crossed paths several times, including at the Invictus Games in Toronto in 2017, where they enjoyed a basketball match together, bonding over their shared interest in sports.

Prince 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 former US president and Prince Harry have also been spotted together at Kensington Palace, where Harry hosted Obama in May 2017. The two friends have met on several occasions to discuss issues such as mental health, conservation, empowering young people, and support for veterans.

Obama and Harry's friendship has extended to their wives as well. Former first lady Michelle Obama has joined Harry at charity events and school visits. She also thanked him on Twitter after one such visit: "Thanks to my friend Prince Harry for joining me in my hometown to surprise these outstanding students!" The Obamas and Prince Harry have maintained their close relationship even after the Obamas left office.

Despite their close friendship, the Obamas were not invited to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in 2018. A Kensington Palace spokesperson explained that an official list of political leaders was not required for the wedding, and all the guests would know the couple personally. The decision to exclude political leaders was made in consultation with the British Government and applied to both UK and international leaders.

The Obamas were not invited to the royal wedding due to their connection to the White House

The Obamas were not invited to the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle due to their connection to the White House. While Barack Obama was the sitting US president, his attendance would have incurred additional security costs, and his presence would have required the invitation of other heads of state.

The wedding was classified as a private event, not an official state occasion, meaning that the couple was not obliged to invite politicians. A Kensington Palace spokesperson confirmed that "an official list of political leaders—both UK and international— [was] not required". This decision was made by the royal household, in consultation with the UK government.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were reportedly strongly advised not to invite the Obamas, as they also did not want to invite then-President Donald Trump, which may have caused awkwardness between the two countries. However, the couple did express that they were looking forward to seeing [the Obamas] soon after the wedding.

The Obamas were not invited to avoid the immense pressure of inviting the Trumps

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was a highly anticipated event, with the world watching the couple's every move. The guest list was a subject of much speculation, with many wondering if former US President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, would be in attendance.

The Obamas had a close friendship with Prince Harry, and the former president was even quizzed by Harry about his relationship with Markle. Harry had also hosted Obama at Kensington Palace, and the former first lady had appeared with Harry for charity events in Chicago. Despite these close ties, it was reported that the Obamas would not be invited to the royal wedding.

A source close to the couple revealed that Prince Harry wanted to extend an invitation to the Obamas but was worried about the "immense pressure that would follow to invite the Trumps." This decision was likely influenced by the fact that Harry's wedding was classified as a private event, not an official state occasion like his brother William's wedding.

The potential security costs of hosting a former president were also a factor in the decision, as seen in William and Kate's wedding in 2011, where the Obamas were not invited due to the added security costs. With Harry's wedding being a smaller and more intimate affair, the couple opted to avoid the potential complications that could arise from inviting political leaders.

Ultimately, the Obamas were not the only political leaders who did not receive an invitation. The Trumps and British Prime Minister Theresa May were also notably absent from the guest list.

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