Obama Attends Harry's Wedding

President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama did not attend the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The couple's spokesperson confirmed that no political leaders would be invited to the wedding, neither from the UK nor internationally. A source from the couple said that they were looking forward to seeing each other soon. Prince Harry and Barack Obama are known to have a close relationship, with the former president supporting the Invictus Games, an event for injured servicemen founded by Prince Harry.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding was not a state occasion

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was not a state occasion. It was a society event, but it did not feature politicians or political leaders. This included President Donald Trump, former President Barack Obama, and British Prime Minister Theresa May. A Kensington Palace spokesperson said:

> "It has been decided that an official list of political leaders — both U.K. 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 partly due to the limitations of the venue, and also took into account Prince Harry's position as sixth in line to the throne. The only politician invited was former Prime Minister Sir John Major, who had been a "special guardian on legal matters" to Princes William and Harry after the death of their mother.

The wedding was also not declared a bank holiday, as had been the case for the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton. Prince Harry's wedding was held on the same date as the FA Cup Final, which his brother William normally attends in his role as President of the Football Association.

The royal couple's wedding was a much smaller affair than that of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, with only 600 guests, compared to 1,900. It was held at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, which has a capacity of 800-900.

The Obamas were not invited to avoid a political distraction

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was a hotly anticipated event, with much speculation about the guest list. The couple had become close to the Obamas, with the former US President and First Lady supporting Prince Harry's Invictus Games for injured servicemen and women. The Prince had also interviewed Barack Obama for BBC Radio 4's 'Today' programme. However, it was eventually confirmed that the Obamas would not be attending the wedding.

A spokesperson for Kensington Palace stated that no official list of political leaders would be required for the wedding, and that the decision was taken by the Royal Household with consultation from the UK government. This meant that neither the sitting US President Donald Trump, nor former President Barack Obama, would be in attendance. The same was true of British Prime Minister Theresa May.

A source told ABC News that the Obamas were not coming to the wedding, but that the two couples looked forward to seeing each other soon. It is unclear whether the Obamas declined the invitation or were not invited at all, but it was thought that they might have chosen not to attend to avoid causing a political distraction. This would have been in keeping with the British royal family's tradition of remaining politically neutral.

Royal biographer Duncan Larcombe commented that reports of the British government pleading with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to exclude the Obamas were likely true. He said, "Diplomacy is very important. Harry and Meghan will be guided by the Foreign Office's advice." He also noted that the royal family has historically remained politically neutral, and that the guest list would be carefully orchestrated to ensure there were no political overtones.

Harry and Meghan's venue was much smaller than his brother's

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding venue was notably smaller than his brother's. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex tied the knot at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, which has a capacity of 600 to 900 guests, depending on the source. This is in stark contrast to the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, which took place at Westminster Abbey and accommodated around 1,900 guests.

The smaller venue for Harry and Meghan's wedding was a deliberate choice, as the couple opted for a more intimate setting for their special day. The guest list for their wedding was also notably different from William and Kate's, with a focus on personal friends and a decision to exclude political leaders. This decision generated some controversy, as it meant that US President Donald Trump, former President Barack Obama, and British Prime Minister Theresa May were not in attendance.

The decision to exclude political leaders from Harry and Meghan's wedding was a break from tradition. In contrast, William and Kate's wedding was an official state occasion, with a guest list that included several world leaders and dignitaries. However, it is worth noting that Harry and Meghan's wedding still had a significant impact and captured the attention of audiences on both sides of the pond, with higher American television ratings than his brother's wedding.

The choice of venue and guest list reflected Harry and Meghan's desire to create a more personalised and intimate celebration. While the smaller venue presented a challenge in terms of guest list management, it ultimately allowed them to curate a guest list that aligned with their vision for their special day.

Overall, the venue for Harry and Meghan's wedding was significantly smaller than his brother's, creating a more intimate atmosphere and allowing them to curate a guest list that reflected their personal connections and priorities.

The guest list was reserved for long-standing friends

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding was a private ceremony, so there was no onus on the couple to invite political leaders. The guest list was reserved for long-standing friends, and the couple wanted to keep politics out of their special day.

A Kensington Palace spokesperson confirmed that an official list of political leaders was not required for the wedding, and that Her Majesty's Government was consulted on this decision. This meant that US President Donald Trump, former President Barack Obama, and British Prime Minister Theresa May were not invited.

The wedding, which took place on May 19, 2018, at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, had a capacity of just 600 people, which was much smaller than the venue for Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding in 2011.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's decision to exclude political leaders from their guest list was likely due to diplomatic reasons and the desire to avoid any political distractions. There had been speculation that inviting the Obamas but not the Trumps could have created a political problem for the British government.

The couple's guest list included only personal friends and long-standing friends they had known for years. This decision was in line with the British royal family's tradition of remaining politically neutral.

Despite not being invited to the wedding, both Harry and Meghan had plans to visit the Obamas in the near future, and a royal source confirmed that the couples looked forward to seeing each other soon.

Harry and Meghan's wedding was on May 19, 2018

The wedding was unique in that it fell on a Saturday, breaking with the royal tradition of having weddings on weekdays. It was also not a state wedding, as Prince Harry was fifth in line to the throne at the time. Another notable aspect was the inclusion of African-American culture in the service, with a gospel choir singing "Stand By Me" and the couple walking out to Etta James's "This Little Light of Mine".

The royal couple exchanged vows in a standard set of vows, with Meghan omitting the word "obey". They shared their first married kiss on the steps of St. George's Chapel, following in the footsteps of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, and Prince William and Kate Middleton.

The wedding was a private ceremony, and political leaders were not invited. This included US President Donald Trump, former President Barack Obama, and British Prime Minister Theresa May. Instead, the guest list included personal friends of the couple, such as George and Amal Clooney, Idris Elba, and Serena Williams.

The wedding was a fairytale event, captivating the world with an estimated 1.9 billion people tuning in to watch. It was a significant moment for the royal family, with Meghan becoming the first person of mixed-race heritage to marry into the British royal family. The wedding also had a positive impact on the economy, generating an estimated £1 billion for the British economy.

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