The Obamas paid for private party with Prince and Stevie Wonder performance - but White House refuses to confirm the stellar entertainment

President Obama threw a glitzy party on Saturday night with performances by Stevie Wonder and Prince - and despite guests excitedly sharing details of the event on social media, the White House has come over all modest about the star-studded line-up.

Press Secretary Josh Earnest confirmed earlier this week that Obama and First Lady Michelle held a private party and paid for it themselves - but the cost was not revealed. 

Earnest said: 'The president and the first lady reserve the right to hold private parties at the White House, and they did it on their own dime.'

The White House refused to comment on the entertainment but guests like Reverend Al Sharpton broadcast the details for them.

 

The Reverend tweeted on Sunday, a half hour after midnight: 'Leaving the White House party w/POTUS and FLOTUS. Awesome to see Prince and Stevie Wonder on keyboards together. Unbelievable experience.'

A reported 500 lobbyists, corporate executives, celebrities and other guests attended the event.

      

'The president and the first lady have had the opportunity to make lots of friends, and many of them were invited to a private party on Saturday night,' Earnest also said of the party.

The event was not included on the President’s public schedule. 

Details of the event became known only after some of the participants, including Sharpton and Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, wrote about the event on social media. 

Wilson, who attended the event with his date Ciara, wrote on Instagram: 'Dancing at The White House to Prince & Stevie Wonder w/ my lady Ciara. Thanks Mr. President and First Lady #Isn'tSheLovely #Blessed' 

Director Ava DuVernay dubbed it 'one of the best house parties I’ve ever been to' on Twitter. 

Prince had performed in Washington D.C. earlier on Saturday at the Warner Theater. 

While the President returned to work after their glamorous Saturday night, the First Lady jetted off on a trip to Europe with daughters Sasha and Malia and her mother, Marian Robinson.

Michelle Obama was on a whistle-stop tour to highlight her campaign to bring girls in the world's most impoverished communities into education.

After taking tea with Prince Harry in the UK and meeting the British PM, David Cameron, it was then on to Italy on Thursday for the next leg of the European tour.