Barack Obama has left out the royal couple Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for his 60th birthday party list. In a sign that the couple’s star power may be waning, it was revealed that Harry and Meghan were “not planning to attend” Barack Obama’s 60th birthday party.
Dickie Arbiter, a royal expert and former press spokesman for the Queen, said that Harry and Meghan are simply not in the same league as the Obamas. He told Australia’s Today programme that the couple “were never even on the invite list”. Host Karl Stefanovic joked: “There is nothing like a milestone birthday to figure out who your true friends are.”
His co-host Allison Langdon asked: “Meghan and Harry have not been invited to President Obama’s birthday bash, is that a surprise?”
Mr Arbiter said: “It is not a surprise at all. There was speculation they would be invited but I don’t think they were ever even on the list.” He continued: “The Obamas have invited not just A-listers but the double A-listers.
“They have said that Barack doesn’t want any presents, what he wants is guests to donate to help young men get on the work ladder, particularly young people of colour. You are talking about Oprah Winfrey, the Clooneys, and Rihanna. Meghan and Harry are just not in that same league of celebrities. They are not double A-listers.”
The embarrassing snub comes as a surprise after the Obamas forged a close relationship with the couple.
Writing for the Australian website, news.com.au, royal expert Daniela Elser argued the Sussexes “baggage” has ensured they may not be as important as they once hoped. She questioned whether the couple still “have what it takes to cut it as global power players”.
