Prince's Wedding Guest List: Trump's Presence Confirmed?

It is unlikely that Donald Trump was invited to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding. In April 2018, Kensington Palace confirmed that the couple chose not to invite an official list of political leaders, instead opting for 2,640 family members, friends, and public citizens. This decision was likely influenced by Harry's position as fifth in line to the throne and the limited space in the Windsor Chapel, where the ceremony was held. While Trump publicly wished the couple well, his absence from the wedding guest list may have had implications for the US-UK relationship, as suggested by Fire and Fury author Michael Wolff.

Donald Trump was not invited to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding

A Kensington Palace spokesperson confirmed that an official list of political leaders was not required for the wedding, as Harry is not a direct heir to the throne. This decision was taken by the Royal Household, in consultation with the UK government.

In an interview with Piers Morgan on ITV, Trump admitted that he had not received an invitation to the wedding. However, he wished the couple well, stating, "I want them to be happy, I really want them to be happy."

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. Additionally, Trump did not have a personal relationship with Harry, having never met him in person or visited the UK during his presidency.

Trump's complicated history with the royal family may have also played a role in his exclusion from the guest list. He had made lewd comments about Harry's late mother, Princess Diana, and had a history of making controversial statements about women, including Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge.

Trump responded that he was unaware of any invite and wished the couple well

It was confirmed by a Kensington Palace spokesperson that no political leaders would be in attendance at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding. This included then-sitting US President Donald Trump.

In an interview with Piers Morgan on ITV, Trump responded, "not that I know of" when asked if he had received an invitation. He wished the couple well, saying, "I want them to be happy, I really want them to be happy. They look like a lovely couple."

Trump's nice comments about the couple were not enough to secure him an invitation to the wedding, especially since he had never met Harry in person and had not visited the UK since becoming President. In addition, Markle, an American-born actress, was a vocal supporter of Hillary Clinton during the 2016 election and had publicly criticised Trump's rhetoric, calling him "divisive" and "misogynistic".

Despite not receiving an invitation, 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 had suggested to guests and well-wishers in lieu of gifts.

Harry and Meghan chose not to invite political leaders to their wedding

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle chose not to invite political leaders to their wedding, including U.S. President Donald Trump and former President Barack Obama. The couple decided on this approach because Harry is only fifth in line to the throne, and the venue, Windsor Chapel, is much smaller than Westminster Abbey, where Harry's older brother, Prince William, got married.

A Kensington Palace spokesperson confirmed that the couple chose not to have an "official list" of political leaders at the wedding, instead opting for 2,640 family members, friends, and members of the public to attend. This included 1,200 people who were invited for their dedication to civic action in the U.K., reflecting Harry and Meghan's shared passion for humanitarianism and community service.

The decision to exclude political leaders was also influenced by the limited size of the venue and the fact that Harry is further removed from the direct line of succession compared to his older brother. In contrast, Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding in 2011 included a large number of political guests due to his position as a future monarch.

It is worth noting that the only politician invited to Harry and Meghan's wedding was former Prime Minister Sir John Major, who had served as a special guardian to Princes William and Harry after the death of their mother, Princess Diana.

While there may have been speculation about potential invitations for certain political figures, Harry and Meghan's decision to exclude them was likely influenced by a desire to maintain political neutrality, as the British royal family has traditionally remained apolitical.

The Obamas were also not invited to the wedding

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding was one of the most highly-anticipated events of 2018. The guest list was a subject of much speculation, with many wondering if political leaders would be in attendance. Ultimately, the couple chose not to invite any political leaders, including then-U.S. President Donald Trump and former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama.

The decision to exclude political leaders from the wedding was largely due to Prince Harry's position in the line of succession. As he was only fifth in line to the throne at the time, the couple was not expected to host political figures. In addition, the wedding venue, Windsor Chapel, was smaller than Westminster Abbey, where Prince William and Kate Middleton had tied the knot in 2011.

The Obamas' absence from the wedding was particularly notable, given their warm relationship with Prince Harry. Michelle Obama had publicly admired the prince, and the couple had traded mock-taunting videos promoting Harry's Invictus Games for wounded military members. They had also spent time together at the inaugural summit of the Obama Foundation in Chicago.

Despite the Obamas not receiving an invitation, there were reports of a potential gift from them to the happy couple. Marie Claire UK suggested that the former first couple might follow the tradition of U.S. heads of state giving bowls to royal family members as wedding presents.

The wedding, which took place on May 19, 2018, was attended by approximately 2,640 people, including family, friends, charity workers, local school members, and members of the Royal Household. The guest list reflected the couple's passion for humanitarianism and their desire to incorporate community service into their special day.

Trump's lewd comments about Princess Diana may have been a factor in his non-invitation

It is highly unlikely that former US President Donald Trump received an invitation to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding. While the couple chose not to invite any political leaders, Trump's lewd comments about Princess Diana may have been an additional factor in his non-invitation.

Back in 2000, a transcript of one of Trump's appearances on The Howard Stern Show was made public. In a previously unreleased recording, when asked by Stern if he "would have slept with" Princess Diana, Trump responded without hesitation: "Without even hesitation." He went on to praise Diana, calling her "magnificent" and "supermodel beautiful". In an even earlier recording from 1997, Trump suggested he would have had sex with Princess Diana but only after she took an HIV test.

These comments may have been a factor in Trump's non-invitation to the royal wedding. In addition to the fact that Harry and Markle chose not to invite political leaders, Trump's lewd remarks about Princess Diana may have been seen as disrespectful and inappropriate.

Another reason for Trump's non-invitation may have been his lack of a personal relationship with Prince Harry. At the time of the wedding, Trump had never met Harry in person and had not made any presidential trips to the UK. It is also worth noting that Markle, an American-born actress, was critical of Trump's "divisive" and "misogynistic" rhetoric during his 2016 presidential campaign.

Despite not receiving an invitation, Trump wished the couple well, saying, "I want them to be happy, I really want them to be happy." He also honoured them with a charitable donation to one of the seven charities the royal couple had designated in lieu of gifts.

Frequently asked questions