Royal Wedding Guest List Snubs: Obama's Not Invited?

There has been much speculation about whether the Obamas were invited to the weddings of Prince William and Kate Middleton, and later, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. In both instances, the Obamas were not invited, with sources citing various reasons for their exclusion. In the case of William and Kate's wedding, it was rumoured that William disliked the Obamas and did not want Michelle Obama to upstage Kate on her wedding day. However, these claims were never confirmed. For Harry and Meghan's wedding, it was officially stated that the couple chose to keep their guest list politics-free, excluding all political leaders, both UK and international.

Prince William and Kate Middleton disliked the Obamas and snubbed them

Rumours circulated in 2011 that Prince William and Kate Middleton disliked former US President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama, and "snubbed" them by not inviting them to their wedding. Sources at the time claimed that William personally told wedding planners to strike the Obamas from the guest list, stating, "He did not want Michelle Obama trying to pull her centre of attention ploy to upstage Kate on Kate's wedding day".

However, these rumours were largely unfounded. In fact, it was reported that no heads of state were invited to the wedding, and that William and Middleton's wedding was not classed as a "state occasion", meaning the couple enjoyed more freedom in their guest list choices.

The wedding was a people's wedding, with a guest list reflecting the couple's friends, beliefs and future

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was a "people's wedding", with a guest list reflecting the couple's friends, beliefs, and future. The couple opted for a more intimate celebration, inviting only 600 people to the wedding, which took place at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. This was a significant departure from the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, which had 1,900 invitees.

In keeping with their vision for a people's wedding, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle chose to exclude political leaders from their guest list. A Kensington Palace spokesperson confirmed that "an official list of political leaders—both UK and international—is not required for Prince Harry and Ms. Markle's wedding." This decision was made in consultation with the Royal Household and the UK government. As a result, neither the Obamas nor the Trumps received an invitation to the wedding.

The decision to exclude political leaders from the guest list was also influenced by diplomatic considerations. There were concerns that inviting the Obamas but not Trump could outrage the US President and strain diplomatic ties between the two countries. Additionally, the British royal family has historically remained politically neutral, and the wedding guest list reflected this tradition.

While the Obamas were not invited to the wedding, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have fostered a close relationship with them. The couple has expressed their desire to do things their own way and have included their own friends on the guest list, regardless of advice from aides. The friendship between Prince Harry and Barack Obama is particularly notable, with the two men bonding over their shared interests and experiences.

In conclusion, the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was a reflection of their values and personal connections. By inviting a diverse range of guests, including friends and members of the public, the couple created a people's wedding that celebrated their beliefs and future together.

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

The Obamas were not invited to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding, despite their close relationship with the couple. A spokesperson for Kensington Palace confirmed that no political leaders, either from the UK or overseas, would be attending the wedding. This included the Obamas, Trumps, and British Prime Minister Theresa May.

Prince Harry is not the direct heir to the throne, which means he is not obligated to invite present and former heads of state. A source close to the couple said that all the guests at the wedding would be people they knew personally.

The Obamas were also not invited to the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011, reportedly due to the added security costs.

The British government likely advised Harry and Meghan to exclude the Obamas

The British government likely advised Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to exclude former US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama from the guest list for their wedding. A royal source confirmed that the Obamas were not coming to the wedding, but the two couples looked forward to seeing each other soon.

Harry and Meghan were strongly advised not to invite the Obamas for diplomatic reasons. The Foreign Office, which is responsible for protecting and promoting British interests worldwide, typically advises inviting foreign royals, dignitaries, and diplomats to royal weddings. At Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding in 2011, no heads of state were invited.

Harry and Meghan's decision to keep their wedding politics-free meant that the Trumps and British Prime Minister Theresa May were also not invited. As Harry was not the direct heir to the throne, he was not obligated to invite present and former heads of state.

Harry and Obama had a genuine friendship beyond work. They were photographed together at the 2017 Invictus Games, and Harry attended the first Obama Foundation Summit. Obama also sent the couple a congratulatory tweet when they announced their engagement. Harry even interviewed Obama for BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

Despite their close relationship, Harry was expected to follow the Foreign Office's advice. A royal source confirmed that Harry and Meghan wanted to do things their own way, but they were also conscious of potential public relations issues if they made any major mistakes.

The Obamas were not invited to William and Kate's wedding due to the venue's limited capacity

The Obamas were not invited to Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding due to the venue's limited capacity. The couple's wedding took place at Westminster Abbey, which had a maximum capacity of 1,900 guests. With 1,900 invitations sent out, it is likely that the guest list had to be restricted to close friends and family, as well as members of the royal family and commonwealth countries.

The decision to exclude the Obamas from the guest list may also have been influenced by the added security costs that their presence would have entailed. This was a factor that was considered when President Obama was not invited to the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018.

In contrast to William and Kate's wedding, the guest list for Harry and Meghan's nuptials did not include official UK or overseas guests. A Kensington Palace spokesperson confirmed that "an official list of political leaders—both UK and international—is not required". This decision was made in consultation with the Royal Household and the UK government.

The venue for Harry and Meghan's wedding, St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, had a smaller capacity than Westminster Abbey, accommodating a maximum of 900 guests. The couple ultimately chose to invite only 600 people to the wedding.

The limited capacity of St. George's Chapel and the decision to exclude political leaders from the guest list are likely the main reasons why the Obamas were not invited to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding.

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