It has been claimed that Prince Harry pulled out of attending the society wedding of the year after realizing “the challenges of attending”.
Sources close to the former royal told People magazine in the US after weeks of speculation that he had personally spoken to the Duke of Westminster, Hugh Grosvenor, to discuss the awkward situation.
Both Harry, 39, and his estranged brother Prince William are long-time friends of Hugh, one of Britain’s richest men, who is set to marry Olivia Henson at Chester Cathedral tomorrow (Friday). .
In fact, William will be the usher at the event, which will also be attended by dozens of mutual friends, some of whom are no longer on speaking terms with the Duke of Sussex.
They could have asked him to escort his brother to his seat, even though the pair had not spoken in person for at least two years.
Now People magazine, which was also the only publication invited to officially accompany Harry and Meghan on their recent quasi-royal tour to Nigeria, says it can “confirm” that the prince was invited to the wedding, despite previous claims that the Duke of Westminster had ‘excluded’ the Sussexes to avoid a clash with senior royals.
Both Harry, 39, and his estranged brother, Prince William, are old friends of Hugh Grosvenor. In the photo: Prince Harry and Meghan.
Sources close to the former royal told People magazine in the US after weeks of speculation that he had personally spoken to the Duke of Westminster, Hugh Grosvenor, to discuss the awkward situation. In the photo: Hugh Grosvenor and Olivia Henson.
William will be the usher at the event, which will also be attended by dozens of mutual friends.
It continues: “However, both parties recognized that it would be difficult for Harry to attend.” The magazine adds: ‘It was an ‘understanding between two friends’, a source describes the conversation between the two dukes.
A source close to the couple told People that Harry and the Duke of Westminster reached a mutual agreement.
“The decision certainly avoided the inevitable clamor that had caused estranged brothers Prince William, 41, and Prince Harry to attend the nuptials, eliminating the possibility of the big day being overshadowed for the couple.”
The publication added: “The Duke of Sussex sends ‘his love, support and admiration for the couple’ on their wedding day.”
The magazine concluded, sympathetically, that “transatlantic travel to the UK is complicated for Harry due to security issues in his home country”, noting that he no longer receives official 24-hour police protection and can no longer use his former home in Windsor. Frogmore Cottage.
This is despite the fact that the Prince can, and has received, limited protection from the Metropolitan Police when necessary in Britain and was even offered a place to stay at a royal residence by his father during his trip to the UK last month.
He and Meghan also traveled to Nigeria with their personal security team, despite it being one of the most dangerous places in Africa.
Hugh Grosvenor, 33, and his family have long enjoyed close ties with the Royal Family dating back many generations.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle travel through Windsor after their wedding ceremony at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.
Hugh Grosvenor, Duke of Westminster, Charlie van Straubenzee and Arthur Landon attend the wedding of Prince Harry to Ms Meghan Markle at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle.
Prince Harry, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, arrive at Windsor Castle to attend the wedding anniversary dinner of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.
The Duke of Westminster, who inherited the title and family fortune at just 25 when his father died suddenly in 2016, is godfather to both ten-year-old Prince George, William and Kate’s eldest son, and Prince Archie, five.
He himself is the godson of King Charles, who will not attend the wedding as he continues to receive cancer treatment, and his mother, Natalia, the Dowager Duchess of Westminster, is godmother to Prince William.
Hugh and Olivia’s wedding will take place at Chester Cathedral on Friday lunchtime and was chosen because of the Westminster family’s close personal connection to the city.
The couple plans to spend more time at the family headquarters, Eaton Hall, once they get married.
Hugh, whose fortune is believed to be around £10bn through property and land holdings, has decided to use his enviable position to undertake greater charitable endeavours, particularly to help vulnerable children and young people.
He will be joined by his future wife, who until now has worked in the sustainable food industry.
Other notable guests expected tomorrow include Hugh’s sisters Lady Edwina and Lady Tamara and their husbands, broadcaster Dan Snow and banker Edward van Cutsem, also a close friend of William and Harry.
