There was much speculation about whether Donald Trump would be invited to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in 2018. In an interview with Piers Morgan, Trump said he was not aware of any invitation, responding not that I know of when directly asked if he had been invited. A Kensington Palace spokesman later confirmed that no political leaders, including Trump, were invited. Trump and Melania did, however, send a gift to the couple, donating to one of the seven charities the royal couple had designated in lieu of gifts.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Was Donald Trump invited to Prince Harry's wedding? | No |
Reason | No political leaders were invited to the wedding |
Donald Trump's response | "Not that I know of" |
What You'll Learn
Donald Trump was not invited to Prince Harry's wedding
Trump's absence from the guest list was likely due to diplomatic concerns, as inviting the Obamas but not the current President and First Lady could have caused issues for the British government. Additionally, Trump did not have a personal relationship with Harry, unlike Obama, who had bonded with Harry over the Invictus Games.
Trump's complicated history with the royal family may have also played a role in his non-invitation. He had made comments about Princess Diana and Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, that may have displeased the Queen's family. Furthermore, Meghan Markle, an American actress and supporter of Hillary Clinton in the 2016 US election, had referred to Trump as a "divisive misogynist".
Despite not receiving an invitation, 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." He and Melania also honoured the newlyweds with a charitable donation to one of the seven charities the couple had designated in lieu of gifts.
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No political leaders were invited to the wedding
NBC News correspondent Keir Simmons reported that people in Harry's circle told him that the prince was "absolutely in charge of everything" and that he decided there would be "no politicians" at the wedding. This decision excluded not only President Trump but also former President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister Theresa May.
The decision to exclude political leaders from the wedding guest list was likely made to avoid potential diplomatic issues. Royal biographer Duncan Larcombe suggested that if the Obamas had been invited and Trump had been snubbed, it could have caused problems for the British government in terms of foreign diplomacy and the special relationship between the US and the UK. He also noted that Harry and Meghan wouldn't want their wedding to be overshadowed by such political tensions.
In addition, Larcombe pointed out that Harry could argue that he was "only inviting people he knows." Trump had not met Harry in person and had not made a presidential trip to the UK at that point. Larcombe also mentioned that Trump had a complicated history with the royal family, having made comments about Princess Diana and Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, that may have displeased the Queen's family.
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Barack Obama was also not invited
Donald Trump was not invited to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding. A Kensington Palace spokesman confirmed that no political leaders were invited to the wedding, including Trump. When asked if he had received an invitation, Trump replied, "not that I know of." Despite this, Trump wished the couple well and said he wanted them to be happy.
The wedding took place on May 19, 2018, at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, with around 800 guests in attendance. The venue was notably smaller than Westminster Abbey, where Prince William and Kate Middleton married, and heads of government were invited to their wedding.
Instead of attending the wedding, Donald Trump and Melania Trump honoured the couple with a gift. They made a donation to one of the seven charities that Harry and Meghan had suggested to guests and well-wishers. These charities benefited causes close to the couple's hearts, including women's empowerment, conservation, the environment, homelessness, and the Armed Forces.
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Trump responded to Piers Morgan that he had not received an invite
In an interview with Piers Morgan on ITV, President Trump responded "not that I know of" when asked if he had received an invitation to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding. Trump's response indicated that he had not received an invite, and he went on to say that he wished the couple well, even after hearing that Markle had criticized him during his presidential campaign. "I want them to be happy, I really want them to be happy," he said, adding that they looked like a "lovely couple."
Trump's comments to Piers Morgan came during his attendance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where he also met with the UK prime minister, Theresa May. Despite not receiving an invitation to the royal wedding, Trump and his wife, Melania, planned to honour 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.
The decision not to invite Trump was reportedly made by Prince Harry himself, who chose not to invite any political leaders to his wedding. A Kensington Palace spokesman confirmed that neither UK nor international political leaders would be included on the guest list. This decision was taken in consultation with the royal household and Her Majesty's Government.
The exclusion of Trump from the wedding guest list may have been due to diplomatic concerns, as inviting the Obamas while excluding the current US president could have caused issues for the British government in terms of foreign diplomacy. Additionally, Trump did not have a personal relationship with Harry, unlike Obama, who had a shared history with the prince through the Invictus Games.
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Trump sent a gift to the couple despite not being invited
US President Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, were not among the guests at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in 2018. However, despite not receiving an invitation, the Trumps decided to send a gift to the royal couple.
In an interview with Piers Morgan on ITV, Trump was asked if he had been invited to the royal wedding, to which he replied, "not that I know of." Despite the uncertainty, Trump expressed his well-wishes for the couple, stating, "I want them to be happy. I really want them to be happy. They look like a lovely couple."
Trump's absence from the guest list was not a surprise, as it was decided that no official list of political leaders, both UK and international, would be invited to the wedding. A Kensington Palace spokesman confirmed this decision, stating, "Her Majesty's Government was consulted on this decision, which was taken by The Royal Household."
Although Trump was not in attendance, 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 traditional wedding gifts. The chosen charities supported causes close to the couple's hearts, including women's empowerment, conservation, the environment, homelessness, and the Armed Forces.
It is worth noting that the decision to exclude political leaders from the guest list also applied to former US President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, despite their friendship with Prince Harry. Ultimately, the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle proceeded without the presence of these notable political figures, with the couple opting to focus on their personal relationships and charitable endeavours.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Donald Trump was not invited to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding.
It was decided that no official list of political leaders would be invited to the wedding, as confirmed by a Kensington Palace Spokesman.
Donald Trump responded to Piers Morgan that he was “not aware” of any invitation, adding that he wanted the couple to be happy.
Yes, Donald Trump and his wife Melania honoured the couple with a gift. They made a donation to one of the seven charities that Harry and Meghan suggested to guests and well-wishers in lieu of gifts.