When Donald Trump was asked if he was invited to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding, he replied, Not that I know of. It was later confirmed by a Kensington Palace spokesperson that no political leaders, including Trump, were invited. The soon-to-be newlyweds chose not to have an official list of political leaders at their wedding, instead opting for family members, friends, and public citizens.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Date of the wedding | 19 May 2018 |
Donald Trump's invitation status | Not invited |
Reason for not inviting political leaders | Harry is only fifth in line to the throne and the wedding venue is not big |
Number of guests invited | 2,640 |
Guest criteria | Family members, friends, public citizens, young people with strong leadership qualities, and those who have served their communities |
What You'll Learn
Donald Trump was not invited to Harry and Meghan's wedding
Donald Trump was not invited to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding. In an interview with Piers Morgan, Trump said that he had not received an invitation "not that I know of". Despite this, he wished the couple well, saying "I want them to be happy. They look like a lovely couple".
A Kensington Palace spokesperson confirmed that no political leaders were invited to the wedding, and that the decision was taken by the Royal Household, with the agreement of the UK government. NBC News correspondent Keir Simmons reported that Harry decided not to invite any politicians. This decision was also likely influenced by diplomatic concerns, as the presence of the Obamas and absence of Trump could have caused problems for the British government in terms of foreign diplomacy.
Trump's complicated history with the royal family may also have been a factor. He did not have a personal relationship with Harry, unlike Barack Obama, who had a shared history with Harry through the Invictus Games. Trump had also made comments about Princess Diana and Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, that the royal family may not have approved of.
In addition, Meghan Markle, an American-born actress and former United Nations Women advocate, was critical of Trump during his 2016 presidential campaign, speaking out against his "divisive" and "misogynistic" rhetoric. She also supported his opponent, Hillary Clinton.
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Harry and Meghan chose not to invite political leaders
The decision to exclude political leaders from the wedding guest list was likely influenced by diplomatic concerns. Royal biographer Duncan Larcombe suggested that inviting the Obamas but not Trump could cause 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 political tensions.
Another reason for not inviting political leaders was the relatively smaller size of the wedding venue, Windsor Chapel, compared to Westminster Abbey, where Prince William and Kate Middleton got married. As Harry was only fifth in line to the throne, a smaller and more intimate wedding was appropriate.
The choice to exclude political leaders also reflected Harry and Meghan's desire to focus on community service and humanitarianism. They invited members of the public and individuals recognised for their dedication to civic action and strong leadership, aligning with their shared passion for helping others.
Additionally, Meghan Markle, an American-born actress and former United Nations Women advocate, had been critical of Trump's "divisive" and "misogynistic" rhetoric during his 2016 presidential campaign. She had expressed her support for Hillary Clinton, and it was unlikely that she would want Trump in attendance at her wedding.
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Trump wished the couple well despite not being invited
Despite not being invited to the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, former US President Donald Trump wished the couple well. In an interview with Piers Morgan on ITV, Trump responded, "Not that I know of," when asked if he had received an invitation. He went on to say, "I want them to be happy. I really want them to be happy. They look like a lovely couple." Trump's kind words for the couple come despite Markle's past criticism of him during his 2016 presidential campaign, where she referred to his rhetoric as "divisive" and "misogynistic".
Trump's absence from the guest list was confirmed by a Kensington Palace spokesperson, who stated that no political leaders, including Trump, would be invited. This decision was made in consultation with Her Majesty's Government and was based on the fact that Prince Harry is only fifth in line to the throne, and the smaller size of the venue, Windsor Chapel. The spokesperson also emphasised that the couple had chosen to invite a mix of family, friends, and public citizens, with a focus on those dedicated to civic action and community service.
Trump's wife, Melania, joined him in sending their well wishes to the couple. The White House spokesperson, Lindsay Walters, confirmed that the Trumps would be making a charitable donation to one of the seven organisations suggested by Harry and Meghan in lieu of gifts. The chosen charities reflect causes close to the couple's hearts, including women's empowerment, conservation, the environment, homelessness, and support for the Armed Forces.
While the decision to exclude political leaders may have averted potential diplomatic issues, it is worth noting that former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, were also notably absent from the guest list. Obama shares a close relationship with Prince Harry, having bonded over the Invictus Games. However, their absence may have been a strategic move to avoid causing offence to Trump, who is known for his jealousy of his predecessor.
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Harry and Meghan invited 2,640 family members, friends and public citizens
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle invited 2,640 family members, friends, and public citizens to their wedding. The wedding took place on Saturday, May 19, 2018, at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in the United Kingdom. The couple wanted members of the public to feel part of the celebrations.
The guest list included approximately 600 people with a "direct relationship" with the couple. Additionally, 200 close friends of the couple were invited to the evening reception at Frogmore House. The public invitees outside the chapel were people from charities, Windsor Castle community members, people from the royal households, and the Crown Estate, and local school children.
The breakdown of the 2,640 public invitees was as follows:
- 200 people from charities and organizations that Harry and Meghan were closely associated with, including those that the prince served as patron.
- 100 pupils from two local schools: Royal School and St George's School.
- 610 Windsor Castle community members, including residents and members of the St George's Chapel community.
- 530 members of the Royal Households and Crown Estate.
- 1,200 members of the public drawn from across the United Kingdom, including young people who showed strong leadership and those who served their communities.
The couple's wedding day was not declared a bank holiday, unlike the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton. The royal family announced that they would pay for the wedding, with costs for the catering expected to be around £286,000, and the overall cost estimated at £32 million. The security costs were expected to be lower than those for the 2011 wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
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The Obamas were also not invited to the wedding
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle did not invite any political leaders to their wedding, including then-U.S. President Donald Trump. The couple opted to celebrate their marriage with 2,640 family members, friends, and members of the public instead. A Kensington Palace spokesperson confirmed that the decision not to invite political leaders was made by the royal household, with the consultation of the government.
While Trump was not invited, it is also notable that his predecessor, Barack Obama, and former First Lady Michelle Obama, were also not invited to the wedding. This decision may have been made to avoid causing problems for the British government in terms of foreign diplomacy and their relationship with the U.S. government.
Harry and Meghan's decision not to invite political leaders may also have been influenced by the relatively smaller size of the venue, Windsor Chapel, compared to Westminster Abbey, where Prince William and Kate Middleton were married. Additionally, Harry's position as fifth in line to the throne may have been a factor, as there was less pressure to invite official political guests.
The Obamas' absence from the wedding may also be attributed to diplomatic concerns, similar to the reasons for Trump's absence. Inviting the Obamas but not Trump could have caused issues for British-American relations and the "special relationship" between the two countries. This decision may have been made to avoid overshadowing the wedding with political tensions.
Furthermore, Harry and Meghan may have chosen to only invite individuals with whom they share a personal relationship. While Harry has a connection with the Obamas through the Invictus Games, it is unclear if Meghan has a similar relationship with them. The couple's guest list may have been influenced by their desire to include those with whom they have a closer connection.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Trump was not invited to the wedding. A Kensington Palace spokesman confirmed that no political leaders were invited.
Harry and Meghan decided not to invite political leaders because Harry is only fifth in line to the throne, and the venue, Windsor Chapel, is not as big as Westminster Abbey, where Prince William and Kate Middleton got married.
Trump responded to Piers Morgan, saying, "Not that I know of. I want them to be happy. They look like a lovely couple."