Photo:Matt Dunham - WPA Pool/Getty
Matt Dunham - WPA Pool/Getty
Meghan MarkleandPrince Harrywill not be heading to the U.K. in June for the society wedding of the year.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have reportedly been left off the guest list for the nuptials of Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster and Olivia Henson, 32 — despite Grosvenor being close to both Harry, 39, and his estranged brotherPrince William, 41. The wedding is set to take place on June 7, at Chester Cathedral, in northwest England.
A spokesperson for Grosvenor — who is one of Britain’s richest men — tells PEOPLE,“We are not in a position to comment on the guest list.”
According totheSunday Times,Kate Middletonand William, as well asKing CharlesandQueen Camillawill be at the service, but Grosvenor, 30, — who is a godparent to William and Kate’s sonPrince George, 10 — has reluctantly made the decision not to invite the Duke and Duchess of Sussex because he reportedly wants to avoid a family clash amid the rift between the royal brothers.
Grosvenor’s ties to the royal family are deep-seated. He is a godson of Charles, 75, and his mother is a godmother to Prince William. He is also one of Prince Archie’s godparents, theSunday Timesreports.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry attend the 2022 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope Gala at New York Hilton on December 06, 2022 in New York City.Mike Coppola/Getty
Mike Coppola/Getty
In 2004, William and Harry were ushers at the wedding of Grosvenor’s sister, Lady Tamara Grosvenor, to Edward van Cutsem, a British banker.
An unnamed friend of both princes was quoted inThe Sunday Timesthis weekend assaying, “It’s incredibly sad it has come to this. Hugh is one of very few close friends of William and Harry’s who has maintained strong bonds and a line of communication with both. He wishes they could put their heads together and patch things up, but realizes it’s unlikely to happen before the wedding. He wanted to avoid anything overshadowing the day, especially for Olivia and doesn’t want any awkwardness.”
Grosvenor became the Duke of Westminster following the death of his father Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor in 2016. Hughsucceeded himto become the seventh Duke of Westminster. At the time of his death, the late Duke had an estimated net worth of $12.15 billion, making him the third-richest British citizen at the time, according to theSunday Times Rich List 2016. Gerald also owned several acres of property near Buckingham Palace.
News of the upcoming wedding came in April after Grosvenor proposed to his girlfriend of two years, Olivia Henson, at his family’s estate at Eaton Hall in northern England’s Cheshire County.
“Members of both their families are absolutely delighted with the news,” a press release announcing the engagement said at the time.
YUI MOK/POOL/AFP via Getty
Hugh is chair of theGrosvenor Group, an investment and real estate group that manages rural estates and supports charitable initiatives, as well as being chair of theWestminster Foundation, which works closely with groups that support families and schools within their local communities and provides grants for youth outreach programs for at-risk children.
During the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, his philanthropic efforts made headlines when, through his foundation, he made $15 million available to NHS Charities Together.
source: people.com
