Prince Harry has declined an invitation to the wedding of the 7th Duke of Westminster, Hugh Grosvenor, to avoid any “awkward” encounters with the royal family, particularly his brother, Prince William.
The wedding, set for June 7 at Chester Cathedral, is significant as Grosvenor is a close friend of both Harry and William. Despite this, Harry has chosen to skip the event, further straining his relationship with William.
Harry recently flew over 5,000 miles to visit his father, King Charles III, following the King’s cancer diagnosis. However, his visit lasted less than 24 hours and did not include a meeting with William.
As Hugh Grosvenor prepares to marry Olivia Henson, Harry reportedly turned down the invitation to avoid tension with other royals. His six-year-old son, Prince Archie, will also not attend the wedding, even though Grosvenor is his godfather.
Sources indicate that Harry’s decision was influenced by reports that William would play a significant role in the wedding as an usher. A close source told Express UK, “William was asked to take up a leading role in the wedding and that’s what triggered Harry to decline the invitation. It was the final nail in the coffin.” The source added that many had expected Harry to take on a leading role, given his close childhood bond with Grosvenor.
Despite the recent revelation, it appears that Harry had already planned to “snub” the wedding. A source told Page Six that Harry received a “save the date” card months ago but informed Grosvenor that it would be too awkward for him and Meghan Markle to attend. Grosvenor understood and accepted Harry’s apologies.
Royal expert and author Tom Quinn explained to The Mirror UK that William’s attendance was inevitable as Grosvenor is Prince George’s godfather. Quinn noted, “Harry declined on the grounds that it would just be ‘too awkward’,” adding that Harry knew he couldn’t attend without Meghan, who insisted she wouldn’t go.
This latest development underscores the deepening rift between the royal brothers and signals a continuing estrangement within the royal family.
