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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Jennifer Newton

Obamas snubbed Harry and Meghan because 'they will go towards William', expert claims

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were snubbed by the Obamas because the former president and first lady 'will go towards William' amid the brother's rift, a royal expert has claimed.

Harry and Meghan were not guests at Barack Obama's glitzy 60th birthday party at the weekend and it's been suggested their friendship with the presidential couple has cooled.

Royal insiders have hinted the Obamas are being cautious about appearing friendly with Harry and Meghan due to concerns about public image and out of respect for the Queen.

According to royal biographer Angela Levin, Barack and Michelle are also close to Prince William and his family.

Prince George, dressed in his pyjamas and dressing gown, meets Barack Obama in 2016 (Getty Images)

They've met on several occasions including shortly after their wedding in 2011, and were famously introduced to Prince George, who was wearing his pyjamas and dressing gown, at Kensington Palace in 2016.

And speaking to The Sun, Angela said: "I’m sure that if they say we can only deal with one brother and his wife — you cannot have both because they are so far apart now — they will go towards William.

Kate Middleton chats to Michelle Obama during the former first lady's visit to Kensington Palace in 2016 (Getty Images)

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"The Obamas clearly always regarded Harry highly, but I am sure they can see through Meghan.

"They may stay around, but they won’t be as pally as they once were."

As well as meeting the Cambridges in 2016 at Kensington Palace, former president Barack recently publicly supported Prince William's Earthshot Prize initiative.

He wrote on Twitter : "It's going to take a lot of big-thinking and innovation to save the one planet we've got – and that's why @KensingtonRoyal's leadership on climate change can make a real difference."

Prince Harry with the Obamas and William and Kate at Kensington Palace (Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Prince Harry's relationship with the former president and first lady of the United States started way before he wed Meghan.

He visited them during their time in the White House in both 2013 and 2015. In 2016, he joined Kate and William as they welcomed the the Obamas to Kensington Palace for dinner during a visit to the UK.

Prince Harry with Barack Obama at the Invictus Games in Toronto in 2017 (WireImage)

It is said they bonded over Harry's Invictus Games - a sporting event for injured servicemen and women.

And Harry appeared in an amusing video to promote the games with the Obamas and even persuaded the Queen to star in it.

Meanwhile, Meghan is said to have had several private meetings with Michelle - including one in 2018 at London's Southbank Centre after the first lady gave a talk there.

Michelle has also previously paid tribute to Meghan on social media, while Meghan described the former first lady as an "endearingly frank, down-to-earth" person.

However, writing in the Telegraph, royal expert Camilla Tominey said: "It arguably will not have gone down well with a couple who have always put 'family first' to see Harry and Meghan being so openly critical of their royal relatives during their Oprah interview in March."

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