Prince Harry, 39, and Meghan Markle, 42, have been notably excluded from the upcoming wedding of Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster, 32, a decision highlighting the deepening rift within the royal family. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, despite their close relationship with Grosvenor, will not attend the June 7 ceremony at Chester Cathedral, where high-profile guests like King Charles III, Queen Camilla, and the Prince and Princess of Wales are expected.
Grosvenor, a godfather to both Prince William’s son, George, and Harry’s son, Archie, reportedly reversed his initial decision to invite the Sussexes after considering the potential distraction their presence might cause at his nuptials to Olivia Henson, 30. A friend of both William and Harry expressed regret over the situation, noting Grosvenor’s desire to avoid any overshadowing of the event or awkwardness, given the current tensions within the royal family.
This exclusion comes amid ongoing controversies surrounding the Sussexes, particularly the fallout from the recent book “Endgame: Inside the Royal Family and the Monarchy’s Fight for Survival” by royal expert Omid Scobie. The book, which briefly stirred controversy with its Dutch version for allegedly naming senior royals in racist comments, paints a negative picture of the relationship between Harry, Meghan, and other royal family members. It claims, among other things, that King Charles openly mocked the couple following their Netflix series and that Prince William believes his brother has been “brainwashed by an army of therapists.”
The Sussexes’ relationship with the broader royal family has been a source of intense media scrutiny, especially following their explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021. Their silence in the wake of the recent revelations has only fueled speculation and criticism. Former head of royal protection Dai Davies accused them of damaging the monarchy’s reputation, while Ingrid Seward, a royal biographer, suggested that their association with the contentious book could further tarnish their image.
This latest development, their exclusion from Grosvenor’s wedding, is seen as another indicator of the widening gap between the Sussexes and the royal family, a division that continues to capture public attention and speculation about the future dynamics within the House of Windsor
