Prince Harry's Wedding Guest List: Trump's Inclusion Unlikely

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in 2018 sparked a diplomatic dilemma, with many wondering if Donald Trump would be invited. Kensington Palace confirmed that no political leaders, including Trump, would be invited. This was likely due to diplomatic concerns and the fact that Harry does not have a personal relationship with Trump. Despite this, Trump and Melania sent the couple a gift and made a donation to one of the seven charities the couple suggested.

Harry's decision not to invite political leaders

In May 2018, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle tied the knot at Windsor Castle, with 600 guests in attendance at St. George's Chapel and over 2,000 others on the grounds of the castle. Notably, the couple decided not to invite any political leaders to their wedding, including UK Prime Minister Theresa May and US President Donald Trump. This decision was confirmed by a Kensington Palace spokesperson, who stated that an "official list of political leaders – both UK and international - is not required" for the wedding.

NBC News correspondent Keir Simmons reported that the decision not to invite political leaders was specifically driven by Prince Harry, quoting sources in Harry's circle who stated that "he is absolutely in charge of everything, that he decides" and that "there are no politicians, he says so". This decision was made in consultation with Her Majesty's Government and was allowed due to Prince Harry's position as fifth in line to the throne at the time.

The decision not to invite President Trump may have been influenced by several factors. Firstly, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle did not have a personal relationship with President Trump, who had not met Harry in person or made an official visit to the UK at that point. Additionally, Markle had been critical of Trump during his 2016 presidential campaign, describing his rhetoric as "divisive" and "misogynistic". Inviting Trump could have also caused diplomatic issues, especially if the Obamas, with whom Harry had a closer relationship, were invited.

The decision not to invite any political leaders allowed Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to focus their guest list on family, friends, and individuals with a dedication to civic action and humanitarianism. The couple invited members of the public, young people with strong leadership qualities, and those who had served their communities, reflecting their shared passion for community service.

Trump's complicated history with the royal family

Donald Trump has had a long and complicated history with the British royal family. From seeking their approval to making controversial comments, Trump's interactions with the royals have often been the subject of public interest and scrutiny.

One of the earliest reported instances of Trump's pursuit of royal approval dates back to the 1980s. In 1981, Trump allegedly fuelled gossip that Prince Charles and Princess Diana were planning to purchase a $5 million condo in Trump Tower. When asked about the rumour, Trump neither confirmed nor denied it, while Buckingham Palace denied the transaction. In 1994, Trump claimed that Charles and Diana had sent him a $50,000 check to become charter members of Mar-a-Lago, which was again refuted by a palace spokesman.

Trump's pursuit of Princess Diana continued even after her separation from Prince Charles in 1992. According to British journalist Selina Scott, Trump pursued Diana aggressively, sending her a blitz of flower bouquets. Diana reportedly found his behaviour creepy and stalking-like. Despite this, they met once, and after Diana's untimely death, Trump made crude comments about her on air, even expressing his regret that they hadn't dated.

Trump has also made controversial comments about other members of the royal family, particularly the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton. In 2012, when paparazzi published topless photos of Kate while she was on vacation with Prince William, Trump defended the photographers and blamed Kate for the incident, shaming her for sunbathing nude.

Trump's history with the royals also includes his interactions with Meghan Markle, now the Duchess of Sussex, before she married Prince Harry. Meghan had spoken out against Trump during his presidential campaign in 2016, calling him "misogynistic" and suggesting that she might stay in Canada if he won the election. Trump, in turn, labelled her "nasty".

In addition to his comments about individual royals, Trump has also faced criticism for his pursuit of royal approval and his use of "fake news" to link himself to the royal family. Between 1981 and 1995, he allegedly planted at least five stories in New York tabloids, falsely claiming that members of the royal family were considering moving into his properties.

When it came to the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018, Trump was notably not invited, along with other political leaders. While Trump took it in stride, wishing the couple well, it added another layer to his already complicated history with the royal family.

Meghan Markle's past criticism of Trump

In 2016, Meghan Markle criticised then-presidential candidate Donald Trump during an appearance on The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore. Markle, who was an actress on Suits at the time, said:

> "Yes, of course, Trump is divisive. Think about just female voters alone, right? I think it was in 2012 the Republican Party lost the female vote by 12 points. That's a huge number and, as misogynistic as Trump is, and so vocal about it, that's a huge chunk of it. You're not just voting for a woman [Hillary Clinton] if it's Hillary, just because it's a woman, but certainly because it has made it easy to see you don't really want that kind of world [that Trump is painting]."

Markle also said that if Trump were to be elected, she would move to Canada: "It's really the moment that I go... we film Suits in Toronto, and I might just stay in Canada."

In an interview with The Sun ahead of a visit to the U.K. in 2019, Trump was informed of Markle's comments and said, "I didn't know that. No, I didn't know that she was nasty." Trump's use of the word "nasty" sparked a debate, as he has a history of using the word to describe women, particularly his political rivals.

Markle's criticism of Trump also caused a diplomatic dilemma in the lead-up to her wedding to Prince Harry. There was speculation that the Obamas may be invited to the wedding, but not the Trumps. British officials were reportedly concerned that inviting the Obamas but not the Trumps could cause offense. Ultimately, no political leaders were invited to the wedding, with a Kensington Palace spokesman stating, "Her Majesty's Government was consulted on this decision, which was taken by The Royal Household."

The Obamas' attendance would cause diplomatic issues

The Obamas' attendance at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding would have caused diplomatic issues. The couple's wedding was already causing a diplomatic dilemma, and it was speculated that the Obamas would be invited but not the Trumps. This would understandably cause offense to the Trumps, and the British government would have faced problems in terms of foreign diplomacy and the special relationship between the U.S. and the U.K.

Harry and Markle did not want their wedding to be overshadowed by such issues. In addition, Harry and Markle may have only wanted to invite people they knew to their wedding, and Harry did not have a personal relationship with Trump.

Harry's personal relationships with invitees

Harry has a close relationship with his brother, Prince William, and the two have many friends in common. However, Harry and his wife Meghan Markle were not invited to the wedding of Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster, and Olivia Henson, in June 2024. It is thought that the Duke chose not to invite the couple to avoid a family clash amid the rift between Harry and William. The Duke is a close friend of both brothers and served as an usher at the wedding, which may have been a source of tension for Harry.

Harry is also close to Barack Obama, with whom he and Meghan shared a congratulatory tweet and bonded over the Invictus Games. Obama was not invited to the wedding, however, as no political leaders were. Harry reportedly made this decision himself, and it is speculated that he did not want his wedding to be overshadowed by diplomatic issues.

Harry's other close friends in attendance at his wedding included David and Victoria Beckham, George and Amal Clooney, and James Blunt and his wife Sofia Wellesley. Harry and James Blunt served in the British Army together, and Blunt was a contender to sing the couple's first dance.

Frequently asked questions