THEIR birthdays are on the same day, but their celebrations could not have been more different.
Meghan’s 40th was low-key, with a video broadcast and Prince Harry juggling balls outside the window.
Former US President Barack Obama marked his 60th with a three-day bash and a guest list that included “royalty” from Hollywood and politics.
But why weren’t Meghan and Harry there? They have long trumpeted their friendship with Obama and wife Michelle, so it seems strange they did not join the likes of Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, Jay-Z and Beyoncé.
I am told that despite claiming she was unable to attend, Meghan desperately wanted to be the special guest at the Obamas’ amazing party on Saturday at their seven-bedroom, £8million holiday home set in 30 acres of Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts.
Those invited were the crème de la crème. George Clooney and wife Amal were there, along with Bruce Springsteen, former presidential candidate John Kerry, singer Alicia Keys and Pearl Jam rocker Eddie Vedder. Also in attendance were singers Erykah Badu and John Legend, there with his model wife Chrissy Teigen.
Others on the guest list included TV anchor Gayle King, who is best pals with the Sussexes’ confidante, Oprah Winfrey, who was also understood to have been invited.
Because of Covid rules, the Obamas were forced to reduce the original number of invitees, which was 475. But the fact is, Harry and Meghan were never even on the original list. Although the Obamas know Harry well and have a lot of time for him, I believe it was a carefully thought-out decision not to invite the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
While I don’t think they won’t have anything to do with Harry and Meghan in the future, I feel they want to step back.
Michelle cares deeply about family. She and Barack believe parents and grandparents are very precious and you don’t insult them, no matter what they do.
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When asked about Harry and Meghan’s bombshell interview about the Royal Family with Oprah, Michelle said: “I just pray that there is forgiveness and there is clarity and love and resolve at some point in time, because there’s nothing more important than family.”
The problem for the Obamas is that the Sussexes’ attack is not just one outburst of anger, which you can forgive, but it is going on and on. First there was the Finding Freedom book, then came the joint interview with Oprah, followed by Harry’s mental health session with her again.
Terrible spitefulness
Now we are going to have more, with extra chapters in Finding Freedom and goodness knows what else in Harry’s book, which will come out next year, just in time for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Harry has signed a £20million deal with Penguin Random House — the publisher of Obama’s memoir A Promised Land. The Sussexes have also followed the Obamas by doing a multi-million dollar deal with Netflix to produce a documentary series.
Michelle has always loved the Queen. When they first met at the G20 summit in 2009, the First Lady made the mistake of putting her arm around Her Majesty.
That is something you never do, but the monarch immediately forgave her because there is something very warm about Michelle. Two years later, the Obamas were so relaxed in the company of the Queen and Prince Philip that during a State visit the Duke drove them to lunch at Windsor Castle.
Michelle later described Her Majesty as “wonderfully warm and funny”. Meanwhile, Barack has always tried to help Harry. In 2016, he joined the Duke in a jokey promotion for the Invictus Games, issuing a challenge to Harry — and even the Queen joined in.
It was all very friendly, but I don’t think he would do anything like that now because Harry has behaved so badly. Harry and his wife were welcomed when they first went to the US because they supported the “right” political party, and they were young and ambitious.
But there is also this terrible spitefulness there. And I don’t think the Obamas go for that. I think the Obamas feel the situation with Harry and Meghan will only get increasingly bitter.
They don’t want to be part of something unpleasant.
While Barack was celebrating his birthday on the East Coast on August 4, Meghan was at home in California on a video with her actress friend Melissa McCarthy.
Melissa has now revealed that Harry thought he would look “weird” juggling out in the garden while his wife was on Zoom. Harry being banished outside reminded me of a Dickens novel — a poor boy looking through the window wanting food. It was very humiliating and undermining.
Let husband go forward
I don’t think the Obamas would like that. Michelle, who never tried to outsmart or diminish Barack, told Meghan when she met her in London that there are times when you have to step back and let your husband go forward.
Michelle gave up a lot to be a mother and to be there for Barack. If you love somebody, you support them. It seems Meghan has no time for anyone except herself.
The Duke of Edinburgh was seriously ill in hospital, but she didn’t want to hold back an interview with Oprah that could have been done at any time. They wanted to leave the Royal Family, but it couldn’t be done quickly enough to work out a way of doing it properly and kindly to maintain the family links.
I believe the Obamas would feel that is not the way to be at the top. The Obamas don’t seem to have been invited to take part in Meghan’s new charity initiative to donate 40 minutes of time to mentor women returning to the workplace after Covid, which she launched in her birthday video.
Celebs asked to support the 40×40 drive include Hillary Clinton, the singer Adele and fashion designer Stella McCartney.
It is, of course, absurd to imagine that just a 40-minute mentorship with a famous name will help unemployed women find a job.
But interestingly, the title is very similar to Barack’s 60×60 birthday appeal, where supporters were invited to donate 60 dollars, or even six dollars, to a worthy cause.
It must be irritating for the Obamas to see Harry and Meghan copying much of what they do. The other problem is that the Obamas are also close to Prince William and his family.
Who can forget that night in 2016 when they went to dinner with William and Catherine at their home and met Prince George, then three, who was in his dressing gown?
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.
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. Last night, the Obamas had not responded to The Celeb Report’s request for a comment.
…AND THE STARS WHO WERE ASKED
