Will Harry and Meghan Markle snub Trump? US President could be REFUSED wedding invite
PRINCE Harry and Meghan Markle have been urged not to invite Barack Obama to their wedding – to avoid upsetting Donald Trump.
BBC host asks Prince Harry if Obama will attend his wedding
The prince and Ms Markle reportedly want the ex-US president and his wife Michelle to attend their nuptials on May 19.
But Government officials are worried Mr Trump, a staunch critic of his predecessor, could take offence if he is not invited as well.
They fear such a snub could jeopardise the relationship between the UK and Donald Trump's administration.
Prince Harry, 33, and Ms Markle, 36, have grown close to the Obamas since they departed the White House earlier this year.
The former president and Mrs Obama attended the Invictus Games, organised by the prince, in Canada this summer.
And Mr Obama was interviewed by Prince Harry as the royal guest-edited BBC Radio 4's Today programme this morning.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle could snub US president Donald Trump
Asked whether he would invite Mr Obama to the wedding, the prince told presenter Sarah Montague: "I don't know about that.
"We haven't put the invites or the guestlist together, so know knows whether he's going to be invited or not. Wouldn't want to ruin that surprise."
And Ms Markle was an outspoken critic of Mr Trump during his presidential campaign last year, branding him "divisive" and "misogynistic".
The prince and Ms Markle have grown close to ex-president Barack Obama
Harry has made it clear he wants the Obamas at the wedding
A Whitehall source said: "Harry has made it clear he wants the Obamas at the wedding, so it's causing a lot of nervousness.
"Trump could react very badly if the Obamas get to a Royal wedding before he has had a chance to meet the Queen.
"Conversations are ongoing about and ministers will eventually have to decide.
"If the Prime Minister lays down the law, Harry will just have to suck it up."
Buckingham Palace is drawing up the guest list, rather than the Government
However, the wedding is not a state occasion, meaning the Government will only have a consultive role in its planning.
Buckingham Palace is drawing up the guest list, rather than the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, which usually deals with state weddings.
There is no precedent for inviting a US President to a royal wedding.
The Obamas were not invited to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's wedding in 2011, reportedly because of the added security costs.
Tensions between the UK and Mr Trump are high after several diplomatic rows
It comes as tensions between the UK and Mr Trump are high following a series of diplomatic rows.
Theresa May last month condemned Mr Trump for re-tweeting anti-Muslim videos posted by far-right group Britain First.
But the US President hit back at the Tory leader in a furious rant, writing: "Theresa May, don't focus on me.
"Focus on the destructive Radical Islamic Terrorism that is taking place within the United Kingdom. We are doing just fine!"