Harry and Meghan wedding chat- the build up!

[Vagabond]

Boxers or briefs? Prince Harry's quickfire questions for Obama

Harry: Suits or the Good Wife?
Obama: Suits obviously.

On the video, Harry then says "Good answer!"

 

[Vagabond]

Government pleads with Prince Harry not to invite Barack Obama to his wedding

There are deep fears among senior Foreign Office and No10 officials that another perceived national snub will make it impossible for Theresa May to meaningfully engage with Trump.

Reports that the happy couple sang a duet of "It's My Party, and I'll Snub If I Want To" in response to this pleading could not be independently confirmed.

 

[Winnipeg]

The reason:

Harry probably said if she doesn't go nor will I. After all, were they going to leave her on her own in UK knowing she has no family there? The other fiancés all had family to spend the time with.

 

[Winnipeg]

He could invite both Barack and Trump. However, There would have to be time for everyone to divert their attention from the couple and acknowledge how wonderful Trump really is.

 

[Vagabond]

The reason:

Harry probably said if she doesn't go nor will I. After all, were they going to leave her on her own in UK knowing she has no family there? The other fiancés all had family to spend the time with.

No. That's not the reason.

The engagements of Prince Charles to Lady Diana Spencer and of Prince Andrew to Sarah Ferguson were formed between Christmas and the wedding date. There was no opportunity for either prince to bring a fiancee to Sandringham for Christmas.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wedding_of_Charles,_Prince_of_Wales,_and_Lady_Diana_Spencer#Engagement
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weddi...,_and_Sarah_Ferguson#Courtship_and_engagement

What's more, prior to the engagement,

Diana was well received at Balmoral by The Queen, Prince Philip, and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.

Historical arguments need to be made on facts, not on make-believe. [/RANT]

ETA: IIRC, Prince Edward and his future wife lived together in an apartment in one of the royal residences for several years before their marriage in 1999. If the Queen has changed her way of doing things, she did it quite a while ago.

 

[Winnipeg]

I hardly think this "historical fact" or "argument" is one of a critical nature. Certainly nothing to elicit a

Notwithstanding, Had there been any question, I am sure Harry with have opted to stay with Megan rather than leave her on her own.

 

[Parsley Sage]

I thought Meghan was just licking her lips.

 

[ballettmaus]

He could invite both Barack and Trump. However, There would have to be time for everyone to divert their attention from the couple and acknowledge how wonderful Trump really is.

Trump is a head of state. I doubt that protocol would allow them to invite him. That said, why would he even want to?

I sincerely hope that they invite whoever they want to invite.

 

[once_upon]

I thought protocol was to invite heads of state and other royalty. but what do I know about protocol.

 

[ballettmaus]

I thought protocol was to invite heads of state and other royalty. but what do I know about protocol.

Isn't that only the case for king/queens and crown prince/princess? When it came to the Swedish, it seemed that Victoria's siblings' weddings were more relaxed and low-key compared to hers.

 

[skatingguy]

I thought protocol was to invite heads of state and other royalty. but what do I know about protocol.

Isn't that only the case for king/queens and crown prince/princess? When it came to the Swedish, it seemed that Victoria's siblings' weddings were more relaxed and low-key compared to hers.

Yes, the invites for Harry's wedding would be different if he were a future King, but at the same time I think the British government is concerned about causing more friction with the US President, particularly over something like this. There are enough real issues that are presenting problems for the 'special relationship' that will have to be negotiated over the next few years.

 

[BaileyCatts]

Government pleads with Prince Harry not to invite Barack Obama to his wedding

Reports that the happy couple sang a duet of "It's My Party, and I'll Snub If I Want To" in response to this pleading could not be independently confirmed.

if I was Harry I'd make Obama my Best Man .... .just because. (/sarcasm off)

 

[ballettmaus]

Yes, the invites for Harry's wedding would be different if he were a future King, but at the same time I think the British government is concerned about causing more friction with the US President, particularly over something like this. There are enough real issues that are presenting problems for the 'special relationship' that will have to be negotiated over the next few years.

I don't think May should pay any attention to what she fears Trump's response will be because he's an (aspiring) autocrat and no one should let autocrats dictate the terms in whatever way as that is how they strive and gain power but I think that's generally a subject that's better discussed elsewhere.
I just think that this is part of the real issue because May's request came for no other reason than that she's afraid that poor Lil' Donny's feelings may be hurt and he'll throw another tantrum. Who.Cares?

 

[Lorac]

Government pleads with Prince Harry not to invite Barack Obama to his wedding

Reports that the happy couple sang a duet of "It's My Party, and I'll Snub If I Want To" in response to this pleading could not be independently confirmed.

Well considering where that story is printed I would take the content with an extremely large pinch of salt. Yes Harry gets on well with the Obamas that's a known fact but beyond that nothing is known about the guest list. The Sun loves to speculate and that's all this is - speculation.

 

[millyskate]

Autocrats start wars for stupid reasons so there’s a valid reason for the government to be worried. Nobody would want Trump at their wedding so I suspect the Obamas, who would otherwise have been invited, will have to stay home. Unless inviting Ivanka comes as an acceptable compromise.

 

[skatesindreams]

Has the wedding been classified as a "state occasion" or a private event?
That may alter what protocols are expected/followed.

 

[Jenny]

Autocrats start wars for stupid reasons so there’s a valid reason for the government to be worried. Nobody would want Trump at their wedding so I suspect the Obamas, who would otherwise have been invited, will have to stay home. Unless inviting Ivanka comes as an acceptable compromise.

I'm no expert on British or international protocol, but I would think Ivanka is not an option. If anything it would be the US Ambassador to Britain, no?

I really hope the Obamas are invited.

 

[millyskate]

I'm no expert on British or international protocol, but I would think Ivanka is not an option. If anything it would be the US Ambassador to Britain, no?

I really hope the Obamas are invited.

I think the whole issue is that protocol is irrelevant to Trump. It's all about appeasing his ego. If the Obamas are invited but he is not, he might react badly with disastrous consequences.

If the Obamas are invited but Ivanka is also, it might just satisfy him enough to not cause too much trouble. Trump is too much of a liability to have hanging around your wedding even for the sake of world peace, but Ivanka wouldn't be so much of a problem.

I don't think it will happen though, I suspect the Obamas will just not be invited. And they will understand, too. It's just a shame if they are personal friends with Harry.

 

[Jenny]

This might help us sort this out - Wiki's list of guests at William and Kate's wedding, including those who declined. Notable:

The US was represented by the US Ambassador, and it appears that no other US officials of any kind were on the list. Now of course this could have been arranged in advance, but given the fussiness over protocol I would think if the Ambassador was attending in place of the President, that would have been noted under those who declined.

For example, the Prime Minister of Canada was invited (Commonwealth countries), but declined and was represented by the Governor General of Canada, who was invited in their own right (again, Commonwealth countries).

As a person not holding any current office, I would think the Obamas fall under the "friends/celebrities" category and we'll see the US Ambassador invited as the official representative of the US, exactly as it was for William and Kate's (more important anyway) wedding.

I get what you are saying that it's not about protocol but rather Trump's ego, but since when did the Royal Family abandon protocol and tradition due to an American's whim? IMO the family is firmly circled around Harry and his bride and will stand by him, with protocol, precedent and tradition as their armor.

 

[Lorac]

Has the wedding been classified as a "state occasion" or a private event?
That may alter what protocols are expected/followed.

It isn't a state occasion as Harry is not destined to be King. William - as a future King - had a more formal state wedding. Harry and Megan's wedding is a semi private event.

This might help us sort this out - Wiki's list of guests at William and Kate's wedding, including those who declined. Notable:

The US was represented by the US Ambassador, and it appears that no other US officials of any kind were on the list. Now of course this could have been arranged in advance, but given the fussiness over protocol I would think if the Ambassador was attending in place of the President, that would have been noted under those who declined.

For example, the Prime Minister of Canada was invited (Commonwealth countries), but declined and was represented by the Governor General of Canada, who was invited in their own right (again, Commonwealth countries).

As a person not holding any current office, I would think the Obamas fall under the "friends/celebrities" category and we'll see the US Ambassador invited as the official representative of the US, exactly as it was for William and Kate's (more important anyway) wedding.

I get what you are saying that it's not about protocol but rather Trump's ego, but since when did the Royal Family abandon protocol and tradition due to an American's whim? IMO the family is firmly circled around Harry and his bride and will stand by him, with protocol, precedent and tradition as their armor.

As the wedding isn't going to be a state occasion the guest list will be smaller and more personal. There may well be a smattering of political invites but not as many as for William's. As Megan is American then inviting the US Ambassador to the wedding would be an acceptable choice for a representative of the US - of course just watch - Ivanka may well insist she is named US Ambassador to the UK just to get a wedding invite in that case . I'm also sure that the Obamas wouldn't want to cause any sort of political rift neither would Harry. As Harry just interviewed Obama for the radio I would guess an informal chat occurred at that point where the wedding was discussed etc.

 

[Lizziebeth]

I too hope the Obamas get invited. They seem to be friends and you should invite friends to your wedding if you want to.

On the other hand, why does anyone think Ivanka would be on the list? Just wondering. Unable to figure this out!

 

[Vagabond]

On the other hand, why does anyone think Ivanka would be on the list? Just wondering. Unable to figure this out!

I'm fairly certain that Ivanka thinks she should be invited. (See her self-serving tweet, linked somewhere upthread.)

Why? Because she's been brought up to feel entitled, that's why!

 

[skatesindreams]

On the other hand, why does anyone think Ivanka would be on the list? Just wondering. Unable to figure this out!

Ivanka may feel that she should be part of a "US Delegation" which might include her.

 

[Winnipeg]

Ivanka or Ivana?

Why in the world would Ivanka be invited??

WRT Obama, I think he is very much able to rise above the politics and would understand if he was not invited. He is much more mature and less ego centric that other politicians.

 

[Jenny]

Ivanka may feel that she should be part of a "US Delegation" which might include her.

To my knowledge there has never been a "US Delegation" to a British royal wedding. Delegations are for diplomatic occasions such as state visits, trade negotiations, global conferences and the like - not social occasions such as this.

Why in the world would Ivanka be invited??

This has been my as well. She has no personal relationships with either the bride or groom or any of the Royal Family, and no official stature that is relevant to UK-US relations.

If people think she might represent her father - and again, there's no reason to think that he would be invited anyway - then why not one of his other children?

This isn't the type of occasion where boldface names get invited just to add celebrity to the event, and if it was, I'm sure Meghan and Harry have plenty of famous friends and associates they'd rather have at their wedding.

 

[Parsley Sage]

. I'm also sure that the Obamas wouldn't want to cause any sort of political rift neither would Harry. As Harry just interviewed Obama for the radio I would guess an informal chat occurred at that point where the wedding was discussed etc.

The interview with Harry and Obama was recording in Toronto in September during the Invictus Games.

 

[Lorac]

The interview with Harry and Obama was recording in Toronto in September during the Invictus Games.

Ah I wasn't aware of that. Thank you. Still I stand by my comment regarding the Obamas not wanting to cause any issues of a political nature. They are just too classy for that.

 

[millyskate]

I get what you are saying that it's not about protocol but rather Trump's ego, but since when did the Royal Family abandon protocol and tradition due to an American's whim?.

When world safety is at stake...
Anything that causes Trump to become more unstable and inflammatory can have incredibly serious consequences. And I think that is why the government is most likely getting genuinely concerned and involved in what should be a trivial matter.
The Royal Family does have a tradition of sacrificing personal desires for the sake of duty, and I see that this may be such an occasion.

 

[Vagabond]

When world safety is at stake...

Anything that causes Trump to become more unstable and inflammatory can have incredibly serious consequences. And I think that is why the government is most likely getting genuinely concerned and involved in what should be a trivial matter.
The Royal Family does have a tradition of sacrificing personal desires for the sake of duty, and I see that this may be such an occasion.

If the report is true (and Lorac gave a good reason why it might not be true), the Government is playing with fire. May's hold on office is tenuous, as is her party's. The last thing she needs to do is to be seen currying favor with a president who is deeply unpopular in the U.K. and going against a prince who is (1) outside the direct line of succession and (2) probably the most popular member of the royal family.

And, if the report is true, I can see the happy couple deciding to limit the guest list to immediate family and close friends, two groups that most likely do not include Theresa May.

 

[millyskate]

I don't think the government's concerns are purely political - I think it's nothing about currying with favour and everything about using sensible precautions with a volatile narcissist in a position of great power. Theresa May's popularity is irrelevant, and indeed I can't imagine she'll be invited to the wedding.

It's about inviting the Obamas - and whether or not that is likely to trigger Trump in a dangerous way. And if they're invited, packaging the invitation in a way that is as diplomatically sensitive as possible.