Obamas At The Royal Wedding: Were They Invited?

There was much speculation about whether the Obamas would be invited to the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, especially since Harry is friendly with former president Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama. However, a spokesperson for Kensington Palace confirmed that the Obamas would not be on the guest list, along with other world leaders, including Donald Trump. The couple decided not to invite any political leaders, which they were allowed to do since Harry is not the direct heir to the throne.

Barack and Michelle Obama were not invited to the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

There was much speculation in the media about whether Barack and Michelle Obama would be invited to the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The couple were said to be \"keen\" to invite the former US president and first lady, with whom they shared a close relationship. Harry had become close to the Obamas through their support for the Invictus Games, an event for injured servicemen and women that the prince founded in 2014. In 2016, the Obamas sent a cheeky video message to Harry (and his grandmother) ahead of the Invictus Games, showcasing their friendly rapport. Harry also interviewed Barack for BBC Radio in 2016, in the former president's first international interview after leaving office.

However, it was eventually confirmed by Kensington Palace that the Obamas would not be in attendance at the royal wedding. A spokesperson for the palace stated: "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." This meant that other political leaders, including US President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May, were also not invited.

The decision to exclude politicians from the guest list was likely influenced by diplomatic concerns. There was speculation that inviting the Obamas but not Trump could cause issues for the British government in terms of foreign relations. Additionally, as Prince Harry is not a direct heir to the throne, he was not obligated to invite political leaders to his wedding. The event was regarded as a private ceremony, allowing the couple more flexibility in their guest list choices.

While the Obamas were not among the 600 guests at the wedding ceremony, it was reported that Harry and Meghan planned to visit them soon after the wedding. A royal source stated, "Both the couples look forward to seeing each other soon."

The couple decided not to invite political leaders, from the UK or abroad

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was not an official state occasion, and the couple was not obliged to invite political leaders. A Kensington Palace spokesman confirmed that the couple had decided not to invite an official list of political leaders, from the UK or abroad, to their wedding. This meant that neither the then-US President Donald Trump, nor his predecessor Barack Obama, would be in attendance. The spokesman said:

> Her Majesty's Government was consulted on this decision, which was taken by the royal household.

The decision was not interpreted as an insult to the Obamas, who shared a close relationship with Harry. The couple had become close through their mutual work with veterans and their support for the Invictus Games, an event for injured servicemen and women that Harry started in 2014. In 2016, the Obamas sent a cheeky video message to Harry and the Queen ahead of the Invictus Games, showcasing their friendly relationship. Harry also interviewed Obama for BBC Radio in 2017, and the pair were involved in a light-hearted social media exchange in 2016.

The decision to exclude political leaders from the guest list was also influenced by the venue's limited capacity and the couple's desire to keep things low-key. The wedding was held at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, with a capacity of around 800 guests, in contrast to the larger Westminster Abbey, where around 1,900 guests attended the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011.

Harry and Meghan were strongly advised not to invite the Obamas

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was not an official state occasion and was instead regarded as a private ceremony. As such, the couple was not obliged to invite political leaders. Harry and Meghan decided not to invite any politicians to their wedding, including former US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama. This was likely due to the potential diplomatic fallout that could occur if the Obamas were invited but the then-US President Donald Trump was not.

Harry and Meghan were reportedly strongly advised not to invite the Obamas to their wedding. This advice may have come from the British government, who would have wanted to avoid causing issues with foreign diplomacy and the "special relationship" between the US and the UK. There was also speculation in the UK media that British officials feared the consequences if the couple invited the Obamas but not Trump, given that Meghan had been a vocal critic of the latter.

Harry and Meghan were close to the Obamas, having become friends through their mutual support for the Invictus Games, an event for injured servicemen and women founded by Harry in 2014. In 2016, the Obamas sent a cheeky video message to Harry (and his grandmother) ahead of the Invictus Games, showcasing their friendly relationship. Harry also interviewed Barack Obama for BBC Radio in 2017, and the pair engaged in a light-hearted social media war in 2016 when the Obamas challenged Harry to "bring it" at the Invictus Games. Despite not being invited to the wedding, it was reported that Harry and Meghan were looking forward to seeing the Obamas soon.

The Obamas and Harry are still on good terms, with plans to meet soon

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle did not invite any political leaders to their wedding, including former US President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama. A Kensington Palace spokesman confirmed this, stating that an official list of political leaders was not required for the event. This decision was made by the royal household, and the couple instead chose to invite only personal friends.

Harry and Meghan's decision to exclude political leaders from their guest list was likely influenced by their desire to keep the wedding a private ceremony. As Harry is not the direct heir to the throne, they had more flexibility with their guest list compared to the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 2011, which was an official state occasion.

Despite not being invited to the wedding, sources close to the couple shared that Harry and Meghan were "very much looking forward to seeing" the Obamas soon. This sentiment was echoed by a royal source, who confirmed that both couples looked forward to seeing each other. The Obamas and Harry have a close relationship, having worked together on initiatives such as the Invictus Games, an event for injured servicemen and women started by Harry in 2014.

Harry and the Obamas have publicly displayed their mutual admiration and friendship on several occasions. In 2016, the Obamas sent a cheeky video message to Harry and his grandmother, the Queen, ahead of the Invictus Games, showcasing their lighthearted rapport. Additionally, Harry interviewed former President Obama for BBC Radio in 2017, marking Obama's first international interview after leaving office. Their friendship has even sparked a playful social media exchange, with the Obamas challenging Harry to "bring it" at the Invictus Games.

The upcoming meeting between the Obamas and Harry and Meghan serves as a reminder that their relationship remains strong, even in the absence of a wedding invitation. Their mutual respect and shared interests continue to be a source of connection, and their plans to meet in the near future underscore the enduring goodwill between them.

Harry and Meghan's wedding was not an official state occasion

A Kensington Palace spokesman confirmed this, stating:

> "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."

This decision was partly due to the limitations of the venue, and also took into account Harry's position as sixth in line to the throne.

The wedding was also not declared a bank holiday, unlike previous royal weddings.

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