Obama Wedding Snub: What's The Real Reason?

There was much speculation about whether Barack and Michelle Obama would be invited to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding. The couple were close, and Harry had a particularly good relationship with the former president. However, a Kensington Palace spokesperson confirmed that the Obamas would not be invited, along with other world leaders, including Donald Trump. The reason given was that Harry was not the direct heir to the throne and so an official list of political leaders was not required.

The Obamas were not invited to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding due to their political affiliations

> It has been decided that an official list of political leaders—both U.K. 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.

Since Harry is not a future king, like Prince William, "official guests" such as heads of state are not necessary. All the guests at St. George's Chapel will know the couple personally.

There was some speculation that the Obamas might be invited due to the personal rapport between former President Obama and Harry. However, it would have been diplomatically awkward to invite the Obamas and not the Trumps.

The British royal family has historically remained politically neutral. The Foreign Office 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.

The Royal Family wanted to avoid any political overtones

A Kensington Palace spokesperson 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."

Royal biographer Duncan Larcombe added that the British royal family has historically remained politically neutral. He said:

> "It’s all very carefully orchestrated to make sure that there’s no political overtones."

Despite Harry and Meghan's close friendship with the Obamas, their connection to the White House prevented them from landing a spot on the guest list.

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

The Obamas were not invited to Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding in 2011. At the time, Barack Obama was the sitting US president. The guest list did not include any heads of state, and a spokesman for Prince William confirmed that "no other heads of state other than those from foreign royal families have been invited to the wedding".

There were several rumours as to why the Obamas were not invited. One source claimed that Prince William personally asked for them to be removed 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 claimed that the decision was made because Michelle Obama had called William's mother Diana an "over-sexed clothes horse" and that she was "more popular than Diana ever was".

The Queen was also said to have taken issue with the Obamas' behaviour. She was reportedly upset that Obama refused to bow to her but later bowed to the King of Saudi Arabia. Michelle Obama was also criticised for putting her arm around the Queen, which was seen as "too familiar".

The Obamas were also not invited to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in 2018. A spokesperson for Kensington Palace confirmed that the wedding would not include any official UK or overseas guests, and that the couple had decided that "an official list of political leaders – both UK and international – is not required". This decision was made in consultation with the British government.

The Obamas' connection to the White House prevented them from being invited

The Obamas were not invited to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding due to their connection to the White House. While the couple shared a close friendship with the former president and first lady, their wedding was to be kept politics-free.

A Kensington Palace spokesperson confirmed that no official UK or overseas guests would be in attendance, including political leaders from both the UK and abroad. This decision was made in consultation with the Royal Household and Her Majesty's Government. As Prince Harry is not the direct heir to the throne, he is not obligated to invite present or former heads of state.

The size of the venue, St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, was also a factor, with a maximum capacity of 900 guests, less than half the number invited to Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding in 2011.

Despite not being invited, sources indicated that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were looking forward to seeing the Obamas soon and that the former president and first lady likely did not have any hard feelings about the decision.

The wedding venue was smaller and more intimate

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding venue, St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, could only accommodate a limited number of guests. The couple opted for a more intimate celebration with only 600 guests in attendance. This decision was likely influenced by the size of the venue, as it could not accommodate a large number of invitees.

The smaller venue allowed the couple to create a more exclusive guest list, focusing on those with whom they shared a close personal connection. This approach differed from Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding, which included a broader range of guests due to the larger venue.

The limited space at St. George's Chapel may have contributed to the decision to exclude political leaders, including the Obamas, from the guest list. With a smaller venue, the couple had to be more selective, and it was decided that "official guests" such as heads of state were not necessary.

The intimate setting of the wedding allowed Harry and Meghan to celebrate with their closest friends and family, creating a more personal and meaningful experience for the couple and their guests.

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