The Obamas And The Royals: A Wedding Invitation

The Obamas were not invited to the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011, nor to the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018. A Kensington Palace spokesperson confirmed that no political leaders, either from the UK or overseas, were invited to the latter.

The Obamas were not invited to Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding in 2011

The decision not to invite the Obamas sparked speculation and rumours that it was due to a fear that Michelle Obama would upstage Kate Middleton. However, these rumours were later refuted, with sources close to the couple stating that William personally instructed wedding planners to strike the Obamas from the guest list because he "did not want Michelle Obama trying to pull her centre of attention ploy trying to upstage Kate on Kate's wedding day". Another source stated that William's decision was influenced by Michelle Obama's behaviour towards his grandmother, the Queen Mother, which included putting her arm around her, which was deemed too familiar.

Despite the Obamas not being invited to the wedding, they did meet the newlywed couple shortly after at Buckingham Palace. The Obamas spent two nights in the Belgian Suite, where William and Kate had spent their wedding night, and were given a tour of the suite by Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. Photographers captured images of Michelle Obama talking with Kate Middleton, while President Obama stood in conversation with Prince William.

Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding was not a state occasion

The wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011 was not a state occasion. As such, no heads of state were invited to the wedding. This included the then-President of the United States, Barack Obama, and the First Lady, Michelle Obama.

A Kensington Palace spokesman 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."

The decision not to invite political leaders to the wedding was made by the Royal Household, in consultation with the British government. This was in keeping with the British royal family's tradition of remaining politically neutral.

The Obamas' absence from the wedding was also due to diplomatic reasons. Royal biographer Duncan Larcombe suggested that reports of the British government pleading with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to exclude the Obamas were likely true. He explained that diplomacy is very important and that the foreign office typically advises inviting foreign royals, dignitaries, and diplomats to royal weddings.

Furthermore, Prince William was not yet the heir to the throne at the time of his wedding, which meant that the event was not an official "state occasion." As a result, protocol did not require the couple to invite heads of state.

Despite the Obamas not being invited to the wedding, there was still warmth between the two families. A Palace spokesman said:

> "Very warm words have been spoken between the royal family and the Obamas. There is a genuine, genuine – and I really mean this – a genuine warmth between the two families."

The Obamas were not invited to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding

While there was much speculation about a potential invitation, especially given the reported friendship between Prince Harry and former US President Barack Obama, it was considered extremely unlikely that the Obamas would receive an invite due to diplomatic reasons. Royal biographer Duncan Larcombe suggested that the British government may have advised the couple to exclude the Obamas to avoid causing issues with foreign diplomacy and the special relationship between the US and the UK.

The size of the venue, St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, which has a maximum capacity of 900 guests, may have also played a role in the decision.

Despite not being invited to the wedding, sources indicated that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were "looking forward to seeing" the Obamas soon.

No political leaders were invited to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding

"It has been decided that an official list of political leaders – both UK & international - is not required for Prince Harry and Ms. Markle's wedding," the spokesperson said. "Her Majesty's Government was consulted on this decision, which was taken by The Royal Household."

Royal biographer Duncan Larcombe suggested that diplomatic reasons were behind the decision not to invite any political leaders. He explained that the British royal family has historically remained politically neutral, and that the Foreign Office typically advises inviting foreign royals, dignitaries, and diplomats to royal weddings. Larcombe also noted that no heads of state were invited to Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding in 2011.

Despite Harry's friendship with former US President Barack Obama, Larcombe predicted that the Obamas would not be invited to the wedding. He suggested that the British government may have advised Harry and Meghan to exclude them to avoid causing problems for British diplomacy and the special relationship between the US and the UK. Larcombe also pointed out that Harry and Meghan's wedding venue, St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, had a smaller capacity than the venue for William and Kate's wedding, making the guest list even more exclusive.

In the end, Harry and Meghan's decision to exclude political leaders from their wedding was in line with royal tradition and the guidance of the Foreign Office. This move helped to ensure that the wedding remained politically neutral and avoided any potential diplomatic issues.

The Obamas have a friendship with Prince Harry

Despite their friendship, Barack and Michelle Obama were not invited to the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. A Kensington Palace spokesperson confirmed that no official UK or overseas guests would be in attendance, including political leaders. This was due to diplomatic reasons and the fact that Harry is not the direct heir to the throne.

The Obamas and Prince Harry have a genuine friendship. They were photographed together at the 2017 Invictus Games, and Harry attended the first Obama Foundation Summit. In addition, Obama sent the couple a congratulatory tweet after their engagement, and Harry interviewed Obama for BBC Radio 4.

Royal biographer Duncan Larcombe acknowledged the friendship between the two, stating that it was a different friendship rather than a business relationship. He also suggested that Harry and Obama shared a bond due to Harry serving as a soldier when Obama was Commander-in-Chief.

Despite the Obamas not receiving an invitation to the wedding, sources stated that Harry and Meghan were "very much looking forward to seeing them soon." This decision was likely made to avoid any potential diplomatic issues and maintain the British royal family's political neutrality.

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