Harry and Meghan were barred from his childhood friend Hugh Grosvenor’s high-society wedding – but William and Kate are invited – the latest sign of a royal rift between the two brothers.
Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster, reportedly wanted to invite the Sussexes but decided against it to avoid clashes on his big day as tensions between the royals rose following the publication of Omid Scobie’s new book.
He chose the Prince and Princess of Wales over the Sussexes to avoid awkward moments for King Charles and Queen Camilla during the wedding, The Times reported.
The billionaire aristocrat, one of Britain’s richest men, 32, proposed to Olivia Henson at his family home of Eaton Hall in Cheshire. They will get married on June 7th in the wedding of the year at Chester Cathedral.
It was revealed that he is the godfather of Harry’s son Archie – and also the godfather of Prince George, who will be at the wedding.
He was a lifelong friend to each of the brothers and probably the only buddy they both chose to mentor their children.
And to rub salt in the wound, Prince William is believed to be in the running for the position of Grosvenor’s best man.
Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster, is said to have chosen the Prince and Princess of Wales over the Sussexes to avoid clashes that would overshadow his big day. Pictured: Prince William (right) and Hugh Grosvenor (second left) during the official handover of the newly built Defense and National Rehabilitation Center in 2018
Tensions between Harry and William are already high. Pictured: Prince Harry (third from right) visits the Khulula Care for Wild Center in South Africa with Grosvenor (right) in 2015.
The billionaire aristocrat, one of Britain’s richest men, 32, proposed to Olivia Henson at his family home of Eaton Hall in Cheshire. They will get married on June 7th in the wedding of the year at Chester Cathedral. Pictured: The happy couple
It was revealed that he is the godfather of Harry’s son Archie – and also the godfather of Prince George, who will be at the wedding. Pictured: Harry and Meghan with Archie in 2019
Tensions are already high between Harry and William – after King Charles III. and Kate Middleton were named as members of the royal family, they are said to have made comments about the skin color of Harry and Meghan’s son Archie before his birth in the Dutch edition of Scobie’s latest book, Endgame
He was a lifelong friend to each of the brothers and probably the only buddy they both chose to mentor their children. Pictured: At the wedding of Harry’s school friend Charlie van Straubenzee and Daisy Jenks
According to the broadsheet, the Duke wanted to invite Harry and Meghan but ultimately decided against it as he feared it would cause tensions with the other royals invited – including the King and Queen.
“It’s incredibly sad that it’s come to this,” a friend of William and Harry told The Times.
“Hugh is one of William and Harry’s few close friends who has strong bonds and close communication with both of them.” He wishes they could put their heads together and sort things out, but is aware that that will happen before the wedding probably won’t happen.”
“He wanted to avoid anything overshadowing the day, especially for Olivia, and doesn’t want any embarrassment.”
Grosvenor told the Times that they were unable to comment on the guest list for his wedding.
Tensions are already high between Harry and William – after King Charles III. and Kate Middleton were named as members of the royal family, they are said to have made comments about the skin color of Harry and Meghan’s son Archie before his birth in the Dutch edition of Scobie’s latest book, Endgame.
The king is said to be taking the furor over the book “very seriously” and will consult senior advisers next week on the family’s next move, with “all options” including legal action to be considered.
Meanwhile, Harry and Meghan did not comment publicly on the scandal. Scobie has been accused of acting as a “mouthpiece” for the Sussexes, a claim he has denied, writing on X, formerly Twitter: “I’m not ‘Meg’s mate’.”
However, sources close to the Duchess of Sussex, who allegedly wrote down the names of the two family members in letters to King Charles, insisted that she “never intended to publicly identify them.”
Prince William (right) and the Duke of Westminster, Hugh Grosvenor (center) in 2018
Hugh Grosvenor attends Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding to Charlie van Straubenzee at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018
According to the broadsheet, the Duke wanted to invite Harry and Meghan but ultimately decided against it as he feared it would cause tensions with the other royals invited – including the King and Queen
A source close to the royal family has now called on Harry and Meghan to speak publicly on the issue.
“For the couple who spoke about ‘death by a thousand no comments’, the silence at this point is deafening,” the source told The Telegraph.
Another insider added that the decision not to respond was “interesting” given the Sussexes’ previous complaints about not receiving support when faced with negative press reports.
The scandal – Scobie had to insist it was not a publicity stunt – ensured that “Endgame” remained in the headlines for more than a week, as excerpts were published in a French magazine in the days before its release.
The most eye-opening excerpt from Paris Match claimed there was a second so-called “royal racist” – after Harry and Meghan alluded to a member of the royal household in 2021 who expressed discomfort with Archie’s skin color.
Grosvenor, who is believed to own more land than the king, has an estimated net worth of £9.42 billion and has a long connection to the royal family – his late father Gerald served as godfather to King Charles.
The Duke was the third child and only son of Gerald Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster, and his wife Natalia, who comes from the Russian Imperial House of Romanov, more specifically Nicholas I of Russia.
When he was baptized on June 23, 1991, the king – then the Prince of Wales – agreed to act as godfather.
Grosvenor, who is believed to own more land than the king, has an estimated net worth of £9.42 billion and has a long connection to the royal family – his late father Gerald served as godfather to King Charles. Pictured: With his mother in 2018
Grosvenor grew up at Eaton Hall with his three sisters, Lady Tamara, Lady Edwina and Lady Viola. They attended a local public primary school before he attended the small, private Mostyn House School, followed by Ellesmere College in Shropshire, where fees are £40,635 a year.
He later studied at Newcastle University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Countryside Management
The duke, whose Latin family motto Virtus Non Stemma means virtue rather than lineage, originally held the title Earl Grosvenor from birth until his father died in 2016 and he became the seventh duke.
At the time he was considered Britain’s most eligible bachelor, but in April this year he announced his engagement to Olivia Grace Henson.
He confirmed the engagement through a statement that said: “The Duke of Westminster and Miss Olivia Henson are delighted to announce that they are engaged.”
“The couple, who have been together for two years, recently got engaged at the Duke’s family home at Eaton Hall in Cheshire.
“Members of both families are absolutely delighted with the news.”
“Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster, is Grosvenor’s Chairman as well as Chairman of the Westminster Foundation.” “Miss Henson works for Belazu, a B Corp certified food company based in London.”
Web has contacted Grosvenor and the Sussexes for comment.