Obama Not Invited to Royal Wedding? Not So Fast

A British paper reported last week that, according to palace courtiers, President Obama will not be invited to Prince William's wedding. Hang on a minute. Since when does the Queen or the palace make that sort of announcement? Whether Obama will be invited or not is one thing, but the palace is certainly not so ungracious as to publicly announce who they're excluding from the guest list.

In fact, the palace typically won't even say who they have invited, just who have accepted and are expected to attend. This is slightly different than the Swedish royals who released beforehand the list of invites for Crown Princess Victoria's wedding this past June.

The paper further states that since William's wedding is not considered a "state occasion," only a handful of heads of state wbe invited, possibly President Sarkozy and his wife, Carla Bruni. While as much as some of us would like to see Carla make a stylish appearance at Westminster Abbey, I find it hard to believe that the Sarkozys might be on the guest list, but the Obamas are not. After all, the United States is one of Britain's biggest allies, and the Queen is particularly fond of the down-to-earth Michelle.

While William wants the wedding to include ordinary people and those who work with his charities, rather than all VIPs and official dignitaries, it certainly doesn't mean the 2,000-capacity Abbey will be filled with mostly the general public. Family and friends of the couple will be invited of course, and by family, I mean members of practically every royal house in Europe, all of whom the British royal family is related. Then, there are various British government officials and the leaders of the Commonwealth countries such as Canada, Australia and New Zealand, who will also have to be included.

So will President and Michelle Obama make the invitation list? I wouldn't rule it out at this point.

 

Comments

[owen8739]

10:22 PM on 01/26/2011

Surprised that he wouldn't be invited, but maybe he can stay home anyway, save the jet fuel for the two 747s, stand down the several hundred advance men and planners, and put the saved money toward hiring some Temps - hell, he could solve the whole employment problem by staying put.

[sushi27]

08:43 AM on 01/16/2011

It's all just rumors - I would be very surprised if the Obama's weren't invited, especially if they invite Sarkozy. Wasn't William just here visiting this year?

[AndTheLike]

03:06 PM on 01/03/2011

I'd love to see Florence + the Machine provide the music for the wedding...

[krallfan]

10:54 PM on 12/25/2010

It does not make sense that FLOTUS wouldn't be invited. I hope she is because I want to see her stroll into WA wearing something fabulous.

[Mahi Joe]

09:22 AM on 12/25/2010

These two young ones better make up their mind soon because if they don't, then I am going to return this Chia Pet I bought them as a wedding gift.

[Mahi Joe]

09:18 AM on 12/25/2010

We can't even keep politics out of a simple wedding. It's their wedding, let them choose whomever they want. It's not like these political figures ever played any role in either's life.

[Indigo1941]

08:03 PM on 12/24/2010

I have a present picked out but I'm not putting it on my charge card until the invitation arrives.

[DorianBrandon]

01:36 PM on 12/24/2010

Who cares. I am sure the Obamas have something better to do with their valuable time.

[Ontopofitall]

06:22 PM on 01/01/2011

Yeah, like go on another vacation....

[free radical]

11:59 PM on 12/23/2010

The reason Charles and Diana's wedding was an official event was that Charles was already crowned prince of Wales, Where as William has no royal title except King apparent. Maybe the press will give them some of the privacy they so deserve. Kate is already dressing the part, have you seen how reserved her style is. If the Obama's went it would be as personal guests, not as head of state.

[marknez21]

02:50 AM on 12/24/2010

B.S's- In 21st century talking about Kings and Queens. What they contribute to England economy?

[You Are My Density]

03:04 AM on 12/24/2010

You'd be surprised to know how much money the monarchy generates in tourist dollars for England. I don't know the figures, but I heard it's a LOT. I once went to London and watched the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace and happened to see Alan Arkin and his wife there, too (looking very glamorous). The place draws people for the history and just the fascination with all the pomp and circumstance. It's really not a bad thing considering how much they do for charities as well.

[krallfan]

10:56 PM on 12/25/2010

Prince Charles runs a business that generates profits that go toward The Princes Trust charity.

[wendynyc]

09:54 PM on 12/23/2010

I hope they are invited and do attend!

[Behind the Tweed Curtain]

09:10 PM on 12/23/2010

Speaking as a Canadian, I would be very pleased to see Stephen Harper royally snubbed.

[beingthebest]

07:13 PM on 12/25/2010

X2

[canobserv]

11:59 AM on 12/26/2010

x3

[PoliticalMMA]

07:24 PM on 12/23/2010

I kind of imagine Obama and other past presidents not wanting to go to every wedding/special event that comes up. Do you really want to fly half-way around the world just to make an appearance when you could be doing other things? And the only reason you're going is because not going would be seen as a sign of disrespect.

[beingthebest]

07:13 PM on 12/25/2010

I imagine quite a lot gets done over a drink

[Catriona]

12:34 PM on 12/23/2010

"... and the Queen is particularly fond of the down-to-earth Michelle."

And how do you know that?

[JanPoore]

06:14 PM on 12/23/2010

Because she said so and because she put her arm arond Michelle too.

[JanPoore]

10:05 AM on 12/24/2010

Your comment is not showing up but I did read it. You might want to read this instead of being one of those negative wagging tongues. MIchelle is not rude at all - just the opposite.
 
http://articles.cnn.com/2009-04-02/living/michelle.obama.queen_1_michelle-obama-britain-s-queen-elizabeth-ii-buckingham-palace?_s=PM:LIVING
 

[Catriona]

10:47 AM on 12/24/2010

"Second, you sound like a snotty, rude person who is totally out of touch. These are not the Victorian times."

You don't make it up as you go. When one is another person's guest, decent people abide by their host's wishes. I cannot imagine what kind of people don't understand this basic tenant of human interaction.

[tangelan]

09:19 PM on 12/22/2010

If the Obamas aren't invited then I'm not going!

[Natalee]

07:03 PM on 12/22/2010

"...The leaders of the Commonwealth countries such as Canada, Australia and New Zealand, who will also have to be included..."

...and India, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Jamaica, Singapore, Barbados, Kenya, Sri Lanka, etc,

[YvonneYorke]

05:32 AM on 12/23/2010

Actually, there are a lot more Commonwealth countries than those Natalee. So if you really want to list them ALL 54 of them, go for it! I think readers get the point listing just 3 as examples :)