The forthcoming royal wedding between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was branded a 'diplomatic timebomb' if Barack Obama was invited, but not Donald Trump.

And now, courtiers are doing their best to defuse the explosive.

I hear that Prince Harry, who counts Obama as a friend, won't ask the former Democrat U.S. President to his nuptials at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, on May 19.

'President Trump will not be invited because the wedding will be for friends and family only,' a source tells me.

I hear that Prince Harry, who counts Obama as a friend, won't ask the former Democrat U.S. President to his nuptials at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, on May 19

'It won't be a state occasion. If Mr Obama was invited, the invitation could look like a snub to Mr Trump, and His Royal Highness would not wish to cause a diplomatic row.'

Courtiers say such an invitation could further antagonise Republican President Trump who, as the Mail disclosed, cancelled a proposed visit to London next month to open the new £750 million U.S. embassy.

A senior source suggested Trump called off what would have been his first trip to Britain since he entered office a year ago as he was unhappy about the arrangements and scale of the visit.

He was not due to meet the Queen until a full state visit at a later date.

Barack Obama is pictured with Prince Harry at the Invictus Games in Toronto last year

Trump's explanation for the snub was that the embassy's move from Grosvenor Square in London's Mayfair district to cheaper Nine Elms, south of the Thames, was a 'bad deal' by the Obama administration.

When Harry was a guest editor of Radio 4's Today show last month, he was asked if he would be inviting Obama, who agreed to be interviewed for the programme. 'I don't know about that,' he replied.

'We haven't put the invites or the guest list together yet, so who knows whether he's going to be invited or not? I wouldn't want to ruin that surprise.'

No doubt, Meghan will have her own views. The U.S. former actress previously described Trump as 'misogynistic' and 'divisive'.

A spokesman for Kensington Palace tells me: 'At this stage, we are not commenting on aspects of the wedding.'

'It won't be a state occasion. If Mr Obama was invited, the invitation could look like a snub to Mr Trump (pictured), and His Royal Highness would not wish to cause a diplomatic row.'

But British love blossoms for ex-President's girl

Her parents might be conspicuous by their absence at the royal wedding, but Malia Obama is doing her bit for the 'special relationship'.

The 19-year-old was enjoying the company of her British beau, Rory Farquharson, in New York this weekend.

Wearing a floral Urban Outfitters dress and a big coat, Malia gazed adoringly at banker's son Rory, 19. Can she encourage him to drop the ciggies, though?

The 19-year-old daughter of Barack Obama, Malia, was enjoying the company of her British beau, Rory Farquharson, in New York this weekend

Here's another date for Meghan Markle's diary: I can reveal that her favourite pop star, Shakira, is to perform at London's O2 Arena on June 11.

Prince Harry's wife, as she will then be, is such a fan of the Hips Don't Lie singer, she once auditioned (unsuccessfully) to be in one of her music videos.

Meghan said she had danced like a 'wild woman'. 'I was really nervous I was going to fall out of my top, I was just shaking around so much.'