Who Attended Harry And Meghan's Wedding From The White House?

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was a highly anticipated event, with many wondering if any US presidents would be invited to the ceremony. Ultimately, neither former President Barack Obama nor then-President Donald Trump received an invitation. This decision was made to avoid potential diplomatic issues and due to the limited space at the venue. Instead, the couple requested donations to seven charities of their choice in lieu of gifts, and the Trumps confirmed they would be making such a contribution.

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

The decision not to invite political leaders was made by the Royal Household, in consultation with the British government. The venue's limited size was also a factor in the decision. The couple's wedding took place at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, which has a maximum capacity of 900 guests. This is less than half the number of people invited to Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding at Westminster Abbey, where 1,900 invites were sent out.

Diplomatic concerns were also likely a reason for the exclusion of Trump, as well as the fact that he did not have a personal relationship with Harry. Inviting the Obamas but not Trump could have caused problems for the British government in terms of foreign diplomacy and the special relationship between the US and the UK.

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. These organisations benefited causes close to the couple's hearts, including women's empowerment, conservation, the environment, homelessness, and the Armed Forces.

Although it is not customary for royals to invite foreign political leaders to their weddings, there had been some speculation that the Obamas might be invited due to their personal rapport with Harry. However, it would have been diplomatically awkward to invite the Obamas and not the Trumps. Ultimately, neither attended the wedding.

Barack Obama was not invited to Harry and Meghan's wedding

Barack Obama was not invited to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding. The couple, who wed on May 19, 2018, at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, chose not to invite political leaders to their wedding. A Kensington Palace spokesman confirmed that "an official list of political leaders – both UK and international – [was] not required" for the ceremony. This decision was taken by the Royal Household, in consultation with the British government.

The decision to exclude political leaders from the guest list was likely made to avoid diplomatic issues and to maintain the British royal family's political neutrality. The venue's limited capacity may have also played a role in the decision, as the church could only accommodate 900 guests, less than half the number invited to the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011.

While Obama and Prince Harry shared a genuine friendship and mutual respect, with Obama sending a congratulatory tweet to the couple upon their engagement, it would have been diplomatically awkward to invite the Obamas and not then-US President Donald Trump. Obama, who was in office during William and Kate's wedding in 2011, was not invited to that wedding either, and the United States was instead represented by its ambassador to the United Kingdom.

The guest list for Harry and Meghan's wedding included people with an existing direct relationship with the couple, as well as individuals selected for their strong leadership and community service. The couple also invited approximately 1,200 members of the public to join the celebrations outside the chapel, including people from charities, the local community, royal household staff, and local school children.

In lieu of wedding gifts, Harry and Meghan requested that guests make donations to one of seven charitable organisations supporting causes such as women's empowerment, conservation, homelessness, and the Armed Forces. The Trumps honoured the couple by making a donation to one of the designated charities, despite not being invited to the wedding.

No US presidents were invited to Harry and Meghan's wedding

A Kensington Palace spokesman confirmed that an "official list of political leaders – both UK and international – [was] not required" for the wedding. This was a decision taken by the Royal Household, in consultation with the British government. The spokesman added that the wedding guests would be people with an existing direct relationship with the couple.

US President Donald Trump and former president Barack Obama were notably absent from the guest list. In an interview with Piers Morgan, Trump responded "not that I know of" when asked if he had received an invitation. Despite wishing the couple well, Trump was not invited due to diplomatic concerns and his lack of a personal relationship with Harry.

Obama, who shared a rapport with Harry through the Invictus Games, was also not invited. The couple's wedding was a smaller ceremony compared to Harry's older brother William's wedding to Kate Middleton in 2011, which was attended by then-Prime Minister David Cameron and other politicians and diplomats. Obama, who was in office at the time, did not attend that wedding, and the United States was represented by its ambassador to the United Kingdom.

The decision to exclude political leaders from Harry and Meghan's wedding was in keeping with the British royal family's tradition of political neutrality. The couple requested that guests make charitable donations in lieu of wedding gifts, and the Trumps honoured the couple by donating to one of the seven designated charities.

Harry and Meghan requested charitable donations instead of gifts

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding took place on Saturday, May 19, 2018, at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, with the ceremony commencing at 12:00 midday BST. The couple requested charitable donations instead of gifts and specified seven organisations for people to donate to, none of which they had a formal association with. These charities included:

• CHIVA (Children's HIV Association), which supports young people living with HIV in the UK and Ireland.
• Crisis, a national homeless body that helps thousands of people rebuild their lives each year.
• The Myna Mahila Foundation, based in Mumbai, which helps empower women by offering stable employment and breaking cultural taboos around menstrual hygiene.
• Scotty's Little Soldiers, which supports children who have lost a parent while serving in the British Armed Forces.
• StreetGames, an organisation that uses sports to help young people and communities become healthier and safer.
• Surfers Against Sewage, a national marine conservation body that works to protect oceans, beaches, waves, and wildlife.
• The Wilderness Foundation UK, which teaches vulnerable teenagers from urban communities about the great outdoors and rural employment opportunities.

In addition to these charities, the Sytner Group created a Harry and Meghan Royal Wedding Memorabilia Car, a MINI 3dr Hatch, which was sold at auction in 2018, with proceeds donated to HIV charities at the couple's request.

Harry and Meghan have always been proponents of giving back, and charity has played a significant role in their relationship. They have continued their charitable work through their nonprofit organisation, Archewell, which was launched when they stepped down from their royal duties and moved to the US. Archewell has made significant donations to various causes, including $100,000 to the Halo Trust, a mine-clearing charity once supported by Princess Diana.

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

The decision not to invite political leaders was likely due to diplomatic reasons and the size of the venue. The couple were also guided by the Foreign Office's advice, which typically recommends inviting foreign royals, dignitaries, and diplomats to royal weddings. The size of the venue was also a consideration, with St George's Chapel having a maximum capacity of 900 guests, which is less than half the number invited to the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton at Westminster Abbey in 2011.

Instead of gifts, Harry and Meghan requested that people make donations to one of seven charitable organisations with which they had no formal association. These charities included CHIVA (Children's HIV Association), Crisis, a national homeless charity, and the Myna Mahila Foundation, which empowers women in Mumbai. The Trumps honoured the couple with a gift, donating to one of the seven charities chosen by the couple.

The wedding was noted for its departure from tradition and its inclusion of African-American culture in the service. It was described as a ""landmark for African Americans" and for Black and mixed-race women. The couple's wedding was also predicted to influence the choices of other British brides for their own weddings.

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