Trump's Royal Wedding Invite: Yes Or No?

President Donald Trump and his wife Melania were not invited to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding. A Kensington Palace spokesperson confirmed that no political leaders were invited to the wedding, neither from the UK nor internationally. This was done to avoid causing offence, as there were rumours that Prince Harry's friend, Barack Obama, would be invited. In addition, Meghan Markle had been outspoken about Trump in the past, and Trump himself had made lewd comments about Harry's late mother, Princess Diana.

Trump wasn't invited to Harry and Meghan's wedding

Donald Trump was not invited to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding. A Kensington Palace spokesperson confirmed that no political leaders, including Trump, were invited. The spokesperson said:

> "It has been decided that an official list of political leaders – both UK 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."

NBC News correspondent Keir Simmons reported that Harry decided not to invite any politicians. In addition, Harry and Meghan's wedding was a much more intimate affair than his brother's, as Harry is only fifth in line to the throne and it is unlikely he will ever become king.

There were also concerns that Trump's presence at the wedding would have caused issues due to his history with the royal family. Trump had made lewd comments about Harry's late mother, Princess Diana, and his sister-in-law, the Duchess of Cambridge. Meghan Markle, an American-born citizen, was also a staunch supporter of Hillary Clinton and had publicly dismissed Trump's rhetoric, calling him "divisive" and "misogynistic".

No political leaders were invited to the wedding

Trump's absence from the guest list was likely due to diplomatic concerns. The US President had never met Harry and had a complicated history with the royal family. In the past, Trump had made lewd comments about Harry's late mother, Princess Diana, and his sister-in-law, the Duchess of Cambridge. Markle, Harry's soon-to-be wife, was also a vocal supporter of Hillary Clinton and had publicly criticised Trump, calling him "divisive" and "misogynistic".

The decision to exclude all political leaders from the wedding was made by the royal household, in consultation with the UK government. This was a break from tradition, as Harry's brother, the Duke of Cambridge, had invited dignitaries, heads of state, and foreign royals to his wedding. However, Harry was only fifth in line to the throne, and it was unlikely that he would ever become king, so he and Markle were permitted a more intimate affair.

The couple requested that guests make donations to one of seven chosen charities in lieu of gifts. The Trumps honoured the couple with a charitable donation, despite not receiving an invitation to the wedding.

Trump made lewd comments about Princess Diana

Donald Trump was not invited to the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. A Kensington Palace spokesman confirmed that no political leaders, including Trump, were invited. This was likely due to diplomatic concerns and the fact that Trump does not have a personal relationship with Harry.

Trump's complicated history with the royal family, including lewd comments made about Princess Diana, may have also played a role in his non-invitation. In interviews with Howard Stern in 1997 and 2000, Trump made several inappropriate remarks about the Princess.

In the 1997 interview, which took place just months before Diana's death, Stern asked Trump if he "could've gotten with Lady Di." Trump agreed, saying, "I think I could have... Without even hesitation." He also suggested that he would have had sex with Princess Diana but only if she passed an HIV test. Acting out a scenario, he said, "Go back over to my Lexus because I have a new doctor, we wanna give you a little checkup." Trump further praised Diana's beauty, saying she was "supermodel beautiful" and that she had great beauty.

In the 2000 interview, Trump again expressed his attraction to Princess Diana, calling her a magnificent woman. He revealed that he had seen her a couple of times and gushed over her beautiful skin. When asked directly by Stern if he would have slept with her, Trump responded, "Without even hesitation."

Trump's comments about Princess Diana were not his only controversial remarks about a member of the royal family. He has also made comments about Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, which may have further contributed to his non-invitation to the royal wedding.

Harry and Meghan asked for charitable donations instead of gifts

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle did not invite any political leaders to their wedding, including then-U.S. President Donald Trump. A Kensington Palace spokesperson confirmed that "an official list of political leaders – both UK and international - [was] not required" for the wedding. This was likely due to diplomatic concerns, as well as the fact that Trump did not have a personal relationship with Harry.

• CHIVA (Children's HIV Association), which supports children growing up with HIV and their families in the UK and Ireland.
• Crisis, the national charity for homeless people, helping them rebuild their lives and leave homelessness behind.
• Myna Mahila Foundation, a charity that empowers women in Mumbai's urban slums by providing them with professional and personal support, as well as access to low-cost sanitary pads and accurate information.
• Scotty's Little Soldiers, a charity for bereaved children of Armed Forces personnel, offering vital support and a network of peers.
• StreetGames, an organisation that uses sport to change lives, helping people and communities become healthier, safer, and more successful.
• Surfers Against Sewage, a national marine conservation and campaigning charity, inspiring communities to take action to protect oceans, beaches, waves, and wildlife.
• The Wilderness Foundation UK, which promotes the benefits and enjoyment of wild nature, helping build resilience in vulnerable teenagers and introducing rural employment to urban youth.

These charities represent a range of issues that the couple is passionate about, including women's empowerment, conservation, the environment, homelessness, HIV, and the Armed Forces. Many of these organisations are small, and Harry and Meghan were pleased to amplify their work and shine a light on the issues they address.

Trump and Melania sent a gift to the couple

Although Donald Trump and his wife Melania were not invited to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding, the couple still sent a gift to the newlyweds. The Trumps were not alone in this—Barack and Michelle Obama were also not invited. In fact, no world leaders were invited to the wedding in an official capacity.

A Kensington Palace spokesperson explained the decision:

> "It has been decided that an official list of political leaders—both UK 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."

Despite the snub, Trump and Melania sent a gift to the happy couple. White House spokesperson Lindsay Walters confirmed that the President and First Lady would make a donation to one of the seven charities that Harry and Meghan had suggested to guests and well-wishers in lieu of gifts. The chosen charities benefit from causes close to the couple's hearts, including women's empowerment, conservation, the environment, homelessness, and the Armed Forces. It is unknown which charity the Trumps donated to.

Marie Claire UK reported that the Trumps might also gift the couple a bowl, in keeping with the tradition of US heads of state giving bowls to royal family members as wedding presents.

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