Obama Absence At Royal Wedding Explained

Barack and Michelle Obama did not attend Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in 2018. A Kensington Palace spokesperson confirmed that no political leaders would be in attendance, adding that the decision was taken by the Royal Household after consultation with the UK government. Despite a close friendship between the Obamas and the couple, the guest list was reserved for long-standing friends.

The Obamas were not invited to the wedding

Despite their close friendship with Prince Harry, the Obamas' connection to the White House prevented them from landing a spot on the guest list. A royal source said that while Harry and Meghan hoped to see Barack and Michelle Obama soon, the former U.S. President and his wife would not be at the wedding. The source would not say definitively whether the Obamas had been invited.

Royal biographer Duncan Larcombe said that reports of the British government pleading with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to exclude the Obamas are likely true. "Diplomacy is very important," he explained. "Harry and Meghan will be guided by the Foreign Office's advice."

The Foreign Office, which is responsible for protecting and promoting British interests worldwide, typically advises inviting foreign royals, dignitaries, and diplomats to royal weddings. However, at the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011, no heads of state were invited. Larcombe predicted that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding would follow a similar blueprint.

The decision not to invite the Obamas may also have been influenced by the size of the venue. The wedding was held at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, which has a maximum capacity of 900 guests. This is less than half the number of people invited to the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton at Westminster Abbey, where 1,900 invites went out.

The wedding was not an official state occasion

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was not an official state occasion, and was instead regarded as a private ceremony. This meant that there was no expectation or requirement for the couple to invite political leaders, either from the UK or internationally.

A Kensington Palace spokesperson 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."

The decision to not invite political leaders was also likely influenced by the size of the venue. The wedding was held at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, which has a smaller capacity than Westminster Abbey, where Prince William and Kate Middleton wed in 2011.

By keeping the wedding a private affair, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were able to prioritise their close personal relationships and ensure that the event was an intimate celebration with their long-standing friends and family.

This decision also allowed the couple to maintain a degree of political neutrality, which is an important aspect of the British royal family's public image. By excluding political leaders, the wedding avoided any potential diplomatic issues or the appearance of favouritism towards certain individuals or parties.

Therefore, the private nature of the wedding provided a reasonable explanation for the absence of Barack and Michelle Obama, as well as other political figures, ensuring that the focus remained on the couple's special day.

Harry and Meghan's venue was smaller than William and Kate's

Harry and Meghan's wedding venue was notably smaller than William and Kate's. The latter couple married in Westminster Abbey, a grand church that can hold 1,900–2,000 people. The former chose St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, which has a capacity of 800–900 guests.

The venue difference reflected Harry and Meghan's desire for a smaller, more private affair. They were not obliged to invite world leaders, heads of state, and diplomats, as William and Kate had done. Instead, they opted for a guest list packed with celebrity friends, including Oprah.

St. George's Chapel, while smaller than Westminster Abbey, is still considered incredibly beautiful. The venue holds special significance for Harry, as he and Meghan spent a great deal of time there.

The smaller venue did present a challenge for Harry and Meghan, who had to be selective with their guest list. They ultimately chose to invite 600 people to the wedding, with a similar number attending the evening soiree hosted by Prince Charles.

The guest list was reserved for long-standing friends

The guest list for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding was reserved for long-standing friends. The couple decided to keep politics out of their special day, and so no political leaders were invited, either from the UK or internationally. This included the then-US President Donald Trump, as well as the Obamas.

A Kensington Palace spokesperson 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."

The venue, St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, was much smaller than Westminster Abbey, where Prince William and Kate Middleton married in 2011. The capacity was just 600, compared to 1,900 at the Abbey, so the guest list had to be more selective.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding was not an official state occasion, and therefore there was no expectation for them to invite political leaders. The couple chose to fill the limited spaces with their closest friends.

Harry and Meghan had become close to the Obamas in the years leading up to the wedding. Harry and Barack Obama were photographed together at the 2017 Invictus Games, and Harry attended the first Obama Foundation Summit. Obama also sent his congratulations to the couple when they announced their engagement. Michelle Obama and Harry had worked together on behalf of veterans, and Barack had supported Harry's Invictus Games in Toronto.

Despite the close connection, the Obamas were not invited to the wedding. It was speculated that this was due to the potential diplomatic consequences of inviting the Obamas but not Trump, as Markle had called Trump "divisive" and "misogynistic" in 2016.

A royal source confirmed that Harry and Meghan still planned to meet with the Obamas soon, stating:

> "Both the couples look forward to seeing each other soon."

The British government may have influenced the decision

Secondly, the British royal family has historically remained politically neutral. 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." This decision was likely made to avoid any political overtones and maintain neutrality.

Thirdly, there may have been concerns about the potential diplomatic consequences of inviting the Obamas but not other political leaders, such as US President Donald Trump. The British government may have advised against inviting the Obamas to avoid any potential political fallout or to maintain consistent treatment of political figures.

Finally, the size of the venue could have been a factor. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding was held at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, which has a smaller capacity than Westminster Abbey, where Prince William and Kate Middleton were married. The limited space may have influenced the decision to prioritize long-standing personal friends over political leaders.

While the official reason given was the desire to keep politics out of the wedding, the British government's consultation on the decision suggests that they may have played a role in excluding the Obamas from the guest list.

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