Deborah Chan
There was much speculation about whether Barack and Michelle Obama would be invited to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in 2018. The two men had a close friendship, working together on the prince's Invictus Games, and Harry had even interviewed the former president on BBC radio. However, it was later confirmed by Kensington Palace that the Obamas would not be in attendance. This was due to a decision not to invite any political leaders, either from the UK or abroad, to the event.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Barack Obama invited to Prince Harry's wedding | No |
| Reason for not inviting | Diplomatic concerns, avoiding a political row, and precedent for US presidents not attending royal weddings |
| Date of Wedding | May 19, 2018 |
| Wedding Venue | St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle |
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What You'll Learn
Harry and Obama's friendship
Barack Obama and Prince Harry first met in Washington in 2015 and have been close friends ever since. They have crossed paths several times, including at the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto, where they famously enjoyed a basketball match together. Obama invited Harry to speak at the 2017 Obama Foundation's Summit, and Harry later interviewed Obama for BBC Radio. They have also worked together on the Invictus Games for wounded military members.
Harry has also collaborated with Michelle Obama. He joined her on a school visit to talk about the future Obama Presidential Centre, and she thanked him on Twitter: “Thanks to my friend Prince Harry for joining me in my hometown to surprise these outstanding students!”
Despite their close friendship, Barack and Michelle Obama did not receive an invitation to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in 2018. Royal biographer Duncan Larcombe said this was due to diplomatic reasons, and the precedent of US presidents not attending royal weddings. Larcombe also suggested that the British government may have advised Harry and Meghan against inviting the Obamas to avoid offending President Trump, who had not yet met the Queen.
Although the Obamas were not invited to the wedding, Larcombe acknowledged that Harry and Obama had a "very genuine friendship" and expected Harry to personally explain the situation to Obama.
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Diplomatic concerns
The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018 sparked a diplomatic dilemma. There was much speculation about whether former US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama would be invited.
The Obamas did not, ultimately, attend the wedding. This was due to a number of diplomatic concerns. Firstly, the British royal family has historically remained politically neutral, and no heads of state were invited to the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011. There is also precedent for US presidents not attending royal weddings. The Obamas' connection to the White House was, therefore, a barrier to their inclusion on the guest list.
Secondly, there were concerns about causing a diplomatic row with President Trump. Prince Harry stated that the wedding would be for "friends and family only", and that he did not want to "cause a diplomatic row". It was thought that if the Obamas were invited, but Trump was not, it could be seen as a snub to the Republican President.
The British government was consulted on the decision not to invite political leaders, and it was noted that Harry is not a direct heir to the throne, so "official guests" were not necessary.
Despite the diplomatic concerns, there was a close friendship between Prince Harry and Barack Obama. They had worked together on the Invictus Games, and Obama had interviewed Harry for BBC Radio. Obama had also sent a congratulatory tweet to the couple when they became engaged.
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No political leaders invited
There were reports that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle would not be inviting political leaders to their wedding. This was confirmed by a spokesperson for Kensington Palace, who said that an official list of political leaders was not required for the wedding. This included both UK and international political leaders, such as the Trumps and British Prime Minister Theresa May.
The decision not to invite political leaders was likely due to diplomatic concerns and the desire to avoid causing a diplomatic row. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding was not a state occasion, and the couple wanted to keep the guest list limited to friends and family.
Additionally, there was speculation that inviting former US President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, while not inviting then-President Donald Trump, could be seen as a snub and cause further diplomatic issues.
It is worth noting that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding was not the first royal wedding where no political leaders were invited. At the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011, no heads of state were invited, and the guest list primarily included religious leaders, members of the royal family, and commonwealth countries.
While Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's decision to exclude political leaders may have been influenced by diplomatic considerations, it is also important to note that the couple had the autonomy to make this choice. As Prince Harry is not the direct heir to the throne, the wedding was not considered a state occasion, and the couple could determine their guest list without including official UK or overseas guests.
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Obama's absence from Obama's birthday
Obamas' Absence from Obama's Birthday
The Obamas were notably absent from Obama's birthday celebrations, and this may have been due to their non-invitation to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in 2018.
In the lead-up to the wedding, there was much speculation about whether the Obamas would be invited. While Prince Harry and Barack Obama were known to have a close friendship, it was ultimately decided that an official list of political leaders was not required for the wedding. This decision was made by the Royal Household, in consultation with the British Government.
The size of the venue was also a factor, as St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle had a maximum capacity of 900 guests, which is less than half the number invited to Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding in 2011.
Diplomatic concerns may have also played a role in the Obamas' non-invitation. There were reports that the British Government pleaded with the couple not to invite the Obamas out of fear of offending President Trump, who had not yet met the Queen. Inviting Obama could have been seen as a snub to Trump and potentially caused a diplomatic row.
Additionally, there is a precedent for US presidents not attending royal weddings due to the added security costs their presence would bring.
While the Obamas were not invited to the wedding, they maintained a positive attitude, with sources saying they were "very much looking forward to seeing [the couple] soon." This sentiment was echoed by a royal source, who added that the couples looked forward to seeing each other soon.
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Royal wedding guest list
The wedding guest list of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle included several high-profile celebrities and members of the royal family. The wedding, which took place on May 19, 2018, at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, was a grand affair with a guest list of around 600 people.
The royal family members in attendance included Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh, the groom's paternal grandparents; the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, the groom's father and stepmother; the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the groom's brother and sister-in-law; Princess Alexandra, the groom's first cousin, twice removed; Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, the groom's first cousin, twice removed; and Lady Sarah and Neil McCorquodale, the groom's maternal aunt and uncle, among others.
Celebrities who attended the wedding included Oprah Winfrey, George and Amal Clooney, Victoria and David Beckham, James Blunt and his wife Sofia Wellesley, Priyanka Chopra, Serena Williams and her husband Alexis Ohanian, and Tom Hardy with his wife Charlotte Riley.
It is worth noting that former US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama were notably not on the guest list, despite Prince Harry's close friendship with them. This decision was made due to diplomatic concerns and the desire to avoid political overtones at the wedding, as no other political leaders, including UK Prime Minister Theresa May and President Trump, were invited.
The guest list reflected the couple's personal connections and included a mix of royalty, celebrities, and friends, making it a star-studded event.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Barack Obama did not attend Prince Harry's wedding.
Barack Obama did not attend Prince Harry's wedding because of diplomatic concerns. The wedding was for friends and family only, and inviting a former president could have caused a diplomatic row.
No, there were no official UK or overseas guests at Prince Harry's wedding.
