Prince Harry expertly sidestepped a potential controversy when asked in a new interview if former president Barack Obama will receive an invitation to his May 2018 wedding to fiancée Meghan Markle.
“We haven’t put the invites or the guest list together yet, so who knows whether he’s going to be invited or not,” the British royal, 33, told BBC Radio 4’s Today show on Wednesday, December 27. “I wouldn’t want to ruin that surprise.”
Multiple U.K. newspapers recently reported that British officials are afraid of potential political consequences should Harry and Markle, 36, decide to invite Barack, 56, and former first lady Michelle Obama to their wedding, but not President Donald Trump.
The guest list for royal weddings are drawn up by Buckingham Palace, but the British government has a consultative role. Harry and the Obamas became friends through the Invictus Games, an annual sporting event created by the royal in 2014. The Obamas were hosted by Harry, Prince William and Duchess Kate for a dinner at Kensington Palace in April 2016.
Harry and Markle, who announced their engagement in November, are set to tie the knot at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018.