13 August 2023 , 00:00
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Michelle Obama helped bring Prince Harry and fiancee Meghan Markle together - and the couple were left devastated when she wasn't allowed to come to their wedding.
The former First Lady of the US secretly played a key role in the royal romance, the Mail on Sunday reported. Harry, 33, and Barack Obama have been firm friends since they first met in 2015, when the former President was still in office. In particular, they bonded over their involvement with the Invictus Games and were pictured laughing together in Toronto last year.
But now it's been claimed the connection goes deeper still. A source told the MoS: "Michelle had a hand in introducing Harry to Meghan. In his mind there wouldn’t be a wedding without her and that is reason enough to invite them. He was not happy such a legitimate reason was ignored."
It was widely known that the couple had wanted to invite the Obamas but that it would have caused a huge diplomatic headache for the government. Harry and Meghan are known to dislike President Donald Trump, who was the US Commander in Chief when they wed, and to snub him while inviting his rival could have sparked uproar.
It appears the royal couple have had to accept defeat. Neither the Obamas, President Trump or the then Prime Minister of the Theresa May attended the glittering event. The official reasoning was that it was not necessary to invite political leaders because Harry, unlike his brother William, is not likely to become king.
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A Kensington Palace spokesman said at the time: "It has been decided that an official list of political leaders - both UK and international - is not required for Prince Harry and Ms Markle's wedding. Her Majesty's Government was consulted on this decision, which was taken by The Royal Household."