Despite President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump not being invited to the wedding of the year, the Trumps will be giving Prince Harry and Meghan Markle a wedding gift, PEOPLE reports.
“President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will be making a contribution to one of the seven charities the royal couple has designated in lieu of gifts,” White House Deputy Press Secretary Lindsay Walters said in a statement.
The White House did not disclose the amount of the Trumps’ donation.The soon-to-be-newlyweds hand-selected a list of seven charities, including the Children’s HIV Association, Crisis, Scotty’s Little Soldiers, Street Games, the Myna Mahila Foundation and the Wilderness Foundation UK, for guests and well-wishers to give to in lieu of gifts, ABC News reports.
The Trumps are not alone in their exclusion from the royal wedding. According to ABC News, Barack and Michelle Obama will also not be in attendance, despite the Obamas being friendly with Prince Harry.
NBC News correspondent Keir Simmons told co-anchor Hoda Kotb on the Today show on Thursday that it was Prince Harry’s decision to exclude politicians from the wedding, PEOPLE reports.
“People in Harry’s circle tell me he is absolutely in charge of everything, that he decides,” Simmons said. “That, for example, is why there are no politicians, he says so, no politicians here, no President Trump here, no British prime minister here.”
Kensington Palace had said in a statement: “It has been decided that an official list of political leaders – both UK and international – is not required for Prince Harry’s and Ms. Markle’s wedding. Her Majesty’s Government was consulted on this decision which was taken by the Royal Household.”
The Trumps might also give the soon-to-be-newlyweds another gift in addition to their charitable donation, following the tradition of presidents who give gifts to royal couples. Past presidents and first ladies have given bowls to royal family members as wedding gifts.
Ronald and Nancy Reagan gave Princess Diana and Prince Charles a glass bowl in 1981, and Harry Truman gifted Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip a glass bowl in 1947, ABC News reports.