According to a Sussex source, Prince Harry received a “save the date” invitation to the Duke of Westminster’s wedding but declined to avoid an “embarrassing” clash with his relatives.
Harry and Meghan’s absence from the guest list for the high-society wedding at Chester Cathedral has sparked widespread interest, not least because the Duke of Sussex and Hugh Grosvenor have been friends since childhood.
Grosvenor, who invited the Prince and Princess of Wales, reportedly wanted to invite the Sussexes too, but decided against it to avoid clashes on his big day as tensions rose following the publication of Omid Scobie’s new book.
He was also believed to be aware of a dispute that complicated his sister’s wedding at the same venue in 2004, when Camilla Parker Bowles was invited but was told to stay away from Prince Charles to avoid the Queen sees them together.
But now another report has emerged on Page Six in which an insider claims Harry was sent a “save the date” date for the wedding, only for the Prince to call Grosvenor and tell him it was “too inconvenient” for him and Meghan would attend.
According to sources, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle received an invitation to the Duke of Westminster’s wedding but declined the invitation to avoid an “unpleasant” clash with the royal family. Pictured: Harry and Meghan at the Invictus Games in September this year
It has been reported that Hugh Grosvenor has decided not to invite the Sussexes to his wedding to Olivia Henson next June to avoid “drama” and so that the row between Harry and William does not overshadow his big day. Pictured: Hugh and Olivia in April this year
However, a source close to 39-year-old Harry claims he called the Duke personally to “apologise” and inform him that both he and his wife Meghan would not be attending the wedding at Chester Cathedral because ” it would be too complicated.” Harry and Prince William are pictured together in July 2021
The comment came after a friend of William and Harry responded to the alleged snub, claiming it was “incredibly sad that it has come to this.” Pictured: Kate, William, Harry and Meghan arrive at Windsor Castle on the long walk to view flowers and tributes to Queen Elizabeth II on September 10, 2022
“Harry actually got a save the date card a few months ago but called Hugh and said it would be too awkward if he and Meghan Markle were there, so he apologized and Hugh understood,” he said Sussex insider quotes saying.
Web has contacted both the Sussexes and the Duke of Westminster for comment.
Grosvenor, 32, will marry Olivia Henson, 30, on June 7 at Chester Cathedral. The King, Queen, Prince and Princess of Wales and Prince George, the Duke’s godson, are all invited.
The Chron revealed on Monday that Grosvenor was putting together the guest list with a royal row in mind, which complicated his sister’s ceremony at the same venue.
“Hugh knows how sensitive wedding invitations can be,” said a family friend.
Camilla Parker Bowles was invited to the wedding of his sister Lady Tamara Grosvenor, but was told she would not be allowed to sit next to Prince Charles and would have to sit several rows back.
She would also have to travel separately. This was because Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were scheduled to attend the ceremony.
A Buckingham Palace courtier was quoted at the time as saying: “It might lead to comments on the day, but Her Majesty will also be there and she is very mindful of protocol.”
“A bench will be reserved for members of the Royal Family in attendance and it would be inappropriate for Ms Parker Bowles to sit next to Prince Charles as she has no official position.”
“Even if Ms. Parker Bowles were to attend the event with the Prince in the presence of the Queen, that would be to give her rights and a status that she simply does not have.”
Grosvenor was worried that something would “overshadow” the day, a friend of Harry and William said on Sunday.
“Hugh is one of the few close friends of William and Harry who maintains strong bonds and close communication with both of them,” the friend told the Times.
“He wishes they could put their heads together and sort things out, but is aware that that probably won’t happen before the wedding.” “He wanted to avoid anything overshadowing the day, especially for Olivia, and he wants to no embarrassment.”
A spokesman for the Duke said: “We are not in a position to comment on the guest list.” Buckingham Palace also declined to comment.
It is believed that William and Kate, as well as the King and Queen Camilla, are all invited to the wedding on June 6, with the Prince of Wales even said to be in the running for best man. The Prince and Princess of Wales are pictured together in October
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: Grosvenor with his mother in 2018
Prince William (right) and the Duke of Westminster, Hugh Grosvenor (center) in 2018
Prince William is believed to be in the running for the position of Grosvenor’s best man. Pictured: William with Grosvenor in 2004
The billionaire Duke, who his friends call Hughie, is also godfather to William’s son Prince George, ten.
He was a lifelong friend to each of the brothers and is believed to have been the only mate both chose to mentor their children.
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.
He even played an official role in the king’s coronation process – carrying the standards of the Quarterings of the Royal Arms and the standard of the Principality of Wales alongside the Marquess of Anglesey, the Earl of Caledon and the Scottish nobleman and conservative politician Earl of Dundee.
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 Sunday Times reported that the Duke wanted to invite Harry and Meghan (pictured in New York City last month) but ultimately decided against it as he feared it would cause tensions with the other royals invited – including the King and the queen
The billionaire Duke, who his friends call Hughie, is also godfather to William’s son Prince George, ten. He was a lifelong friend to each of the brothers and is believed to have been the only mate both chose to mentor their children. Pictured: William and Kate at the Royal Variety Performance at the Royal Albert Hall on November 30th
Ed Van Cutsem and Lady Tamara Grosvenor leave their wedding reception at Chester Cathedral on November 6, 2004
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.
Ms Henson, the Duke’s girlfriend of two years, works for an ethical food company. She attended the Princess of Wales’s old school, Marlborough College, where Princess Eugenie was a contemporary.
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.”
William is said to “want action” after his wife Kate was named alongside Charles as the two royals Meghan identified in a private letter to the royal that claimed “concern” about the color of her future son’s skin had been expressed. Pictured: Harry and Meghan with Archie in 2019
King Charles III is said to be taking the furore surrounding Omid Scobie’s book Endgame “very seriously” after His Majesty and Kate Middleton were named as the senior royals who allegedly commented on Archie’s skin color before his birth
The original ‘racism’ claim was made in the Sussexes’ infamous Oprah Winfrey interview in 2021 (pictured)
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, together with their mother Doria Ragland, present their new son Archie to Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip at Windsor Castle in 2019
The news that the Sussexes will not be attending Grosvenor’s wedding comes as Harry and Meghan face increasing backlash as they continue to remain silent on royal racism allegations made by their “mouthpiece” Omid Scobie in his new book. “Endgame”.
The Dutch translation caused consternation among the royal family after King Charles and the Princess of Wales were named as the senior royals who allegedly discussed Archie’s skin color.
The couple has yet to speak publicly about the book and a meeting between King Charles and Prince William is due to take place next week to discuss how to deal with the fallout from Scobie’s book.
It could have serious consequences for Harry and Meghan as William is believed to “want action”.
The royal family has firmly adopted a business-as-usual stance, but the possibility of legal action remains. The final decision on the next step rests with Charles, who sources say will not act hastily.
A palace source said: “Most right-wing people would expect an apology – who wouldn’t?”
“Being falsely branded as a racist in the press is a serious accusation that must be taken seriously.” “All options are still on the table.”
Sources close to the Sussexes have tried to distance the couple from the book. They say Meghan never intended for the King or Princess of Wales to be publicly identified in the race and that the letter was not passed on to Scobie by anyone close to her.
Pictured: Harry and Meghan with Archie after his christening and (left to right) Camilla, King Charles, Mrs Doria Ragland, Lady Jane Fellowes, Lady Sarah McCorquodale, the Duke of Cambridge and the Duchess of Cambridge in the Green Drawing Room at Windsor Castle
The inclusion of the names resulted in 5,000 copies of the book, entitled Final Battle (pictured), being withdrawn from sale in Holland and pulped on bookshelves
Harry and Meghan (pictured in Düsseldorf in September) have not publicly commented on the scandal
Meanwhile, Conservative MP Bob Seely is introducing a bill that could deny the Sussexes their titles as Duke and Duchess.
On Sunday he wrote in The Mail that he felt compelled to act because “race was being used to denigrate the royal family” – and suggested reviving World War I laws could pave the way for this , declaring the couple as pure Mr. and Mrs. Sussex.
The Isle of Wight MP wants to adjust laws originally passed to deny enemy German nobles their British titles. Mr Seely said he had to act because there had been attempts to use race to denigrate the royal family, which he described as “toxically insidious”.
He is requesting that his Titles Deprivation 1917 Amendment Bill be listed in the Commons’ Order Paper next week. It would revitalize the warring powers by removing references to “enemies” and “current war.” He coordinated the wording with the Parliament’s Desk Office, which oversees draft legislation.