- Opinion
- 29 Dec 17
The guest list for Prince Harry's wedding list is causing a royal headache, as it's unclear whether the Prince will invite Barack and Michelle Obama - and possibly snub President Trump.
In Barack Obama’s first media interview since leaving office, Obama sat down with his friend, Prince Harry, who asked Obama how he felt on the day of Trump’s inauguration. The ever-classy Obama said he felt serenity and remarked mostly about how thankful he was that his marriage was as strong going into office as it was leaving office.
“The first thing that went through my mind was sitting across from Michelle, how thankful I was that she had been my partner through that whole process … but overall, there was serenity there. More than I would have expected.”
“Can you give us a reason to be optimistic next year?” Prince Harry asked President Obama. And then with perfect timing, he added: “Please?"
Obama responded, “If I had to choose any time in history to be born, I’d choose now,” an answer both vague yet pointed, contrasting as it does with Trump's constant glorifying of a past where more people were violently oppressed.
Obama revealed the downsides and upsides of no longer being in the White House, remarking that "I didn't used to experience traffic -I used to cause traffic!" He added, "The fact that I can wake up and if I want to spend an extra 45 minutes talking to Michelle and take a long breakfast — I can do it. That feels great."
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However, a later moment between Prince Harry and a Radio 4 host has sparked its own controversy, when Prince Harry was asked would Obama be invited to his upcoming wedding to Meghan Markle.
Prince Harry avoided the question, saying that the invite list had yet to be confirmed and that he didn't want to "ruin that surprise."
There has been speculation British officials fear the political consequences if the couple decide to invite Barack and Michelle Obama, with whom they are friends, but not President Donald Trump. Markle in particular has been very outspoken about disagreeing with the American President.
The wedding's guest list is being drawn up by Buckingham Palace, with the British government in a consultative role. Theoretically, Downing Street could insist on Trump or a representative being invited, or potentially block the Obamas from being invited should Trump not also be invited.