Who Will Be On Prince Harry's Wedding Guest List?

There was much speculation about whether Barack Obama would be invited to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding. The two shared a close friendship, but the British government was concerned that inviting Obama and not then-current US president Donald Trump could cause diplomatic issues and strain the relationship between the two countries. Obama was not invited to the wedding, nor was Trump.

Harry and Obama's friendship

Barack Obama and Prince Harry first met in Washington in 2015 and have been firm friends ever since. They have crossed paths several times, including at the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto, where they bonded over their shared interest in sports.

Obama invited Harry to speak at the 2017 Obama Foundation's Summit, and Harry joined Michelle Obama on a school visit to talk about the future Obama Presidential Centre. The pair also conducted a hilarious interview with each other for BBC Radio 4's Today programme, in which they joked about British accents.

Harry introduced the Obamas to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 2016, marking the first time the young royals had entertained a head of state privately. They have also met to discuss issues such as mental health, conservation, empowering young people, and support for veterans.

When Harry announced his engagement to Meghan Markle, Obama extended warm congratulations to the couple. However, the Obamas did not attend their wedding, with a Kensington Palace spokesman stating that it had been decided that an official list of political leaders was not required for the event.

Despite their close friendship, the relationship between the couples has come under scrutiny recently, as the Sussexes were notably absent from Obama's 60th birthday celebrations. It has been suggested that their friendship may have cooled, with royal insiders claiming that the Obamas are cautious about appearing too friendly with Harry and Meghan due to concerns about public image and respect for the Queen.

Diplomatic reasons

The decision not to invite Barack and Michelle Obama to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding was largely due to diplomatic reasons.

Firstly, the size of the venue, St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, which has a maximum capacity of 900 guests, was a factor in the guest list. 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 were sent out. As such, the couple chose to invite only 600 people to their wedding.

Secondly, the British royal family has historically remained politically neutral. At Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding in 2011, no heads of state were invited. Instead, there were religious leaders, members of the royal family, and commonwealth countries. The same blueprint was likely followed for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding.

Thirdly, the Obamas' connection to the White House prevented them from being invited to the wedding. While Prince Harry has a close friendship with former US President Barack Obama, the couple decided not to invite any political leaders, from the UK or overseas, to their wedding. This decision was made in consultation with Her Majesty's Government and The Royal Household.

Finally, the British government was reportedly concerned that inviting the Obamas and not the Trumps could worsen US-UK relations. President Trump had previously taken to Twitter to publicly attack world leaders, and the bride-to-be, Meghan Markle, had publicly criticized him in the past.

The Obamas' connection to the White House

Barack Obama served as the 44th President of the United States. He was the first African American to hold the office. Obama's father, Barack Sr., was a Kenyan economist, and his mother, Stanley Ann Dunham, was a student in Hawaii, where Barack was born on August 4, 1961.

Obama's upbringing was middle-class, and he had a strong family background. He faced complexities in discovering his identity during adolescence. After attending Occidental College in Los Angeles for two years, he transferred to Columbia University, where he studied political science and international relations. Post-graduation, Obama worked in New York City and then became a community organizer on Chicago's South Side. He coordinated with churches to improve housing and set up job training programs in a community impacted by steel mill closures.

Obama's academic achievements and community work led to him attracting national attention. He went on to Harvard Law School, where he became the first African American president of the Harvard Law Review. Returning to Chicago, he joined a civil rights law firm and married Michelle Robinson, a fellow lawyer who had also excelled at Harvard Law. The couple had two daughters, Malia and Sasha, born in 1998 and 2001, respectively.

Obama's political career began with his election to the Illinois Senate in 1996 and then to the U.S. Senate in 2004. He gained national acclaim with his keynote address at the Democratic National Convention that year. In 2008, he was elected President, serving two terms until 2016.

Obama's presidency faced challenges, including economic collapse, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the threat of terrorism. He responded with ambitious federal spending plans and significant legislative achievements. During his time in office, he also received the Nobel Peace Prize and oversaw the killing of Osama bin Laden.

The Obama Foundation continues their legacy, with the upcoming Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, scheduled to open in 2026. The center will feature a museum, library, and gathering spaces, showcasing the story of the Obamas and their historic presidency.

The size of the venue

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were married in St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. The chapel has a capacity of 800 people, though it can fit up to 900 guests. This is much smaller than Westminster Abbey, where Prince William and Kate Middleton were married, which has a capacity of 2,000.

The chapel has been the site of many royal weddings over the centuries, including the weddings of Prince Edward in 1999, Prince Charles and Camilla in 2005, and Princess Anne's son Peter Phillips in 2008. The first wedding to take place in the chapel was in 1863, between the future King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra.

The British government's worries about offending Trump

The British government was concerned about offending Donald Trump by inviting Barack Obama to Prince Harry's wedding.

In 2018, Prince Harry married Meghan Markle. There was much speculation about whether Barack and Michelle Obama would be invited to the wedding, given that Prince Harry and Ms Markle were reportedly "keen" to invite them. However, the couple did not want to invite President Donald Trump, which could make things awkward between the two countries. As a result, they were strongly advised not to invite the Obamas.

A Kensington Palace spokesperson confirmed that the Obamas would not be on the guest list, nor would any other world leaders, including Donald Trump and Theresa May. A statement from the Palace read:

> "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. Her Majesty's Government was consulted on this decision, which was taken by The Royal Household."

The British government was consulted on this decision, indicating their concern about maintaining diplomatic relations and avoiding offence.

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