Omid Scobie’s Endgame was published by HarperCollins, a subsidiary of News Corp, which is owned by the Murdoch family. The only print interview Scobie did in the British media (that I saw) was in the Times of London, which is one piece of the Murdochs’ print-media empire. While the Times ran several stories about Endgame and they even referred to Scobie as “Harry and Meghan’s cheerleader/biggest fan,” the outlet has not devoted any space to the Dutch-edition of Endgame “naming” the racist royals. It seems that this is being dealt with in-house, and until then, News Corp isn’t throwing Scobie under the bus. It’s fascinating to watch the Times go radio silent on that part of the story, especially given the howling in the Mail, Telegraph, Express and Mirror. I’m very curious to see how that part of the story plays out, honestly.
So, with corporate seemingly dictating that no royal reporter can dig around the Dutch mistranslation, what’s a royal reporter like Roya Nikkhah to do? It sounds like she just ran whatever dumbf–k story Kensington Palace handed her on a plate. Behold, Harry and Meghan are not invited to a fancy society wedding in the UK. Oh noes, you guys.
If the Duke and Duchess of Sussex need any reminder of the fault lines caused by the royal rift, it will come next summer at the wedding of Prince Harry’s lifelong friend Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster. The King and Queen and the Prince and Princess of Wales are on the invitation list for what will be the society wedding of the year, when Grosvenor, 32, marries Olivia Henson, 30, at Chester Cathedral on June 7.
But Harry and Meghan will be notably absent. Grosvenor, one of Britain’s richest men and closest friends of the royal family, has decided to exclude the Sussexes to avoid a family clash in the House of Windsor. It is thought that Prince William is in the running to be best man for Grosvenor, a godfather to Prince George, ten, who is also expected to attend.
Harry and Meghan’s exclusion will [be] a particular blow to the couple because Grosvenor is so close to Harry that it can be revealed that he is also a godfather to the Sussexes’ son, Prince Archie. He is thought to be the only friend of William and Harry’s chosen as a godparent by both. The Sussexes have not publicly named Archie’s godparents, but they include Tiggy Pettifer, a former nanny to William and Harry, Mark Dyer, a former equerry to Charles, and Harry’s friend Charlie van Straubenzee.
Grosvenor, who inherited 140,000 acres of land in Oxfordshire, Cheshire, Lancashire and Scotland, as well as 300 acres in Mayfair and Belgravia in central London from his father, is the King’s godson and had an official role in Charles’s procession at the coronation in May.
It is understood that he had wanted the Sussexes to attend his wedding and originally planned to invite them, but has decided against it, conscious that the drama surrounding the couple risks overshadowing the day and causing tension for Charles, Camilla, William and Kate. A spokesman for Grosvenor said: “We are not in a position to comment on the guest list.”
A friend of William and Harry’s said: “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 realises 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.”
Meghan may be less disappointed than her husband to miss out on Grosvenor’s wedding celebrations, expected to be held at Eaton Hall, at the heart of his 11,000-acre estate in Cheshire. Scobie has said the duchess is loath to return to England and refuses to “dive back into the soap opera”, a comment that has caused amusement behind palace walls, where the Sussexes’ interview with Winfrey was dubbed “Soap Oprah”.
But for Harry, who was keen to attend one of his oldest and closest friend’s nuptials, it will be a bitter reminder of the repercussions of his departure from the royal fold. Last month a friend of the couple said the Sussexes would “not decline an invitation to spend time with His Majesty” over the Christmas or summer holidays at Sandringham or Balmoral, noting that “as of yet, there have not been any invitations for the holidays”. But with mutual friends of Charles and the Sussexes conceding that it is impossible for them to attend the same event, the likelihood of an invitation from the King looks more remote than ever.
There’s a subset of royal gossip these days which always amounts to “William threw a tantrum, demanded that someone snub Harry, then the person begrudgingly agrees to the snub and William leaks it to ‘punish’ Harry.” See also: President Biden, Dr. Biden, Tom Bradby, David Beckham and more. What happened here is that Hugh Grosvenor wanted to extend an invitation to the Sussexes, then William threw a massive hissy fit, one which threatened to overshadow the nuptials, so Hugh Grosvenor agreed to not invite the Sussexes. Who probably would not have even come in the first place. This was Kensington Palace desperate to announce some “punishment” for Harry and Meghan, and all they could get was “you can’t attend a June wedding or William’s head will explode.” Not really the winning narrative the royal clownshow thinks it is.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
-
- Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales, Royal Honorary Colonel The Queen's Own Yeomanry, attends a consecration service and presents a new Guidon to The Queen’s Own Yeomanry during a parade at Bramham Park, Bramham.,Image: 387915817, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Hugh Grosvenor,Duke of Westminser, Credit line: John Rainford / Wenn / Avalon
-
- HRH King Charles III, Queen Camilla, William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Prince of Wales receive President of South Korea Yoon Suk Yeol during the state visit ceremonial welcome at Horse Guards Parade in London, UK, 21 November 2023,Image: 823420935, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Tim Rooke/Shutterstock / Avalon
-
- The Prince of Wales, Colonel-in-Chief, 1st Battalion Mercian Regiment, during a visit to the regiment, in the south west of the UK, for the first time following his appointment to the role by King Charles III.,Image: 823804763, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Andrew Matthews / Avalon
-
- Britain’s Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge speak to employers, at the London Bridge Jobcentre, in London, Britain, September 15, 2020.
Impossible for them to attend the same event? Didn’t PH and PW both attend the coronation and the Queen’s funeral? This guy doesn’t sound like much of a “friend”.
Roya also just revealed that he is apparently one of Archie’s godparents🙄. If it’s true, the Sussexes sure did not tell her that.
Roya Nikka is making that up. She already revealed who the godparents were in 2020. It was Harry’s former Nanny, his mentor Mark Dwyer, and his best friend Charlie. Today, she came up with a Fourth person to put the Sussex in the news as a favorite to Kate. At the same time, she shows off her invite to Kate’s Christmas special, which no one watches. In other words, she’s trying any and everything to get the heat off of racist Kate.
Have the Sussexes ever named any of Archie’s godparents themselves? Harry didn’t mention it in spare did he? Roya must be pretty comfortable in thinking that the Sussexes aren’t going to issue a statement about this.
What I want to know. Why hasn’t any writer said that William not even being able to sit in the same room as Harry for a few hours. Means that he is a horrible Diplomat. If he can’t sit across a large room with Harry. Then how can he negotiate anything with people who hate each other.
Re: Robert Phillips : 💯% this.
Not one of these pro William & Kate articles cast them in a positive light. How can they not see it? Their loudest defenders are fringes, I am sorry but Daily Beast, Sun, Piers Morgan to the Daily Mail – a paper not even Wikipedia will take as credited source, are not reflection of someone who is state like.
If William was dignified he would not have drawn the Duke of Westminster into this, no matter how much he wanted to send a message that Harry is ostracised. Let the Duke come out and say it then if this the message you want to send but having your known mouthpiece drag him into this story to throw one at your brother is not dignified. Why does KP always go for the low hanging fruit. I guess because their audience, the media, are gutter dwellers so that’s what make them happy. Mob like mentality, you can actually see their reaction gathering moss as it rolls along.
Say what we say about Charles , but Charles has humanity, he has made mistakes and serious errors of judgement, but he has achieved positive impact on people’s life. His passions are genuine and his business acumen has been proven. Even if he never became King, he impacted real people with real life changing actions – just listen to those who benefited from the Prince Trust. I sense that this drama is a glue for KP, if this goes away , the glue looses hold/ its stickiness.
I can’t imagine this is how Lee Thompson envision his work will be. I feel sympathy for him – Coming from NBC to this? Might as well he had gone to DC or No. 10 as at least he would be impacting policy and shaping society, even if it requires this kind of playground PR, it would have been between politicians and real work, real policy would be coming out of this. What is coming out of this constant thrashing, shouting and the briefings and figurative beating of chest? What’s the sustainable gain for society out of this?
Harry knows better than anyone that if he and Meghan attend the wedding, the whole wedding will become nothing but ugly attacks. No bride wants that. No bridegroom would want that for his fiance. The wedding is supposed to be about them, not whatever shit the tabloid jackals want to stir. Harry probably told Hugh it would be better if they don’t go. It won’t have to impact their friendship.
#RoyaNikkhahIsALiar
Exactly
@roooth, agree. H&M would also not want someone else’s wedding to be about them. (no matter how hard the BM tried that with E&J’s). I have know idea about Hugh G’s & Harry’s relationship. Hugh, from most accounts, seems like a decent sort. ‘oldest and closest friend’ lol He’s definitely not the ‘oldest’ since Hugh is 7 years younger. Harry was in the army when HG was 13/14. Have their families known each other a long time. Yes. Have they spent time together. Yes. And, honestly, HG and his family seem to appear to be people that are more in line with thinking outside the aristo box.imo
This does appear to be Roya/BRF nonsense. Hugh is/was heir to the Duke of Westminster title. He is not heir to the family fortune solely. I might be wrong, but his mother is still living and there is a Grosvenor’s Trust that handles the family’s fortune. Hugh’s 3 sisters receive the same amount of $$$$$$$$ that Hugh does annually from what I’ve read.
Yup, RoyaNikkahIsALiar
Sad that Hugh is such a wuss & suck-up to Willy. I’m sure that there will be enough attendees that the Brothers could stay many yards apart. It would then behoove Willy & Kate to behave with some restraint & dignity, if they’re capable of such.
Maybe Hugh is hoping for some prestigious appointive role from future king Will? Maybe the monarchy won’t last past King Chuck the Chinless?
He is caught between the tree and the bark. As they say, he wanted to invite both but can’t due to the immaturity of willie. This country’s press is so sick, its quite understandable that the couple want their wedding focused on them. He seem to be a nice guy and probably have more common view on life with Harry. The ‘snub’ interpretation was provided by the wales.
These ppl put more value in class and appearance than anything. When it comes to making a choice between W and H, they will always choose W. To them, H chose to walk away. It doesn’t matter what the cause is/ was. H chose someone not from their class and spoke out against everything that they know. Members of the Royal family… Zara and Mike have spoken on record that they all speak ill of Harry. Stop making excuses for him… eventually, they will all choose W.
@San Diego – Exactly.
Well said, San Diego.
I don’t believe that people who are supposedly friends of both Harry and tob would say something like this: “A friend of William and Harry’s said: “It’s incredibly sad it has come to this.”
If Hugh is still close with Harry, then they probably discussed him coming before the invitations were sent. H&M aren’t exactly in the UK very often these days, and the security issues play a huge role in that as well.
100% this. If Hugh Grosvenor still talks to Harry, then he already knows they would not cross the Atlantic just for one wedding.
H & M should still receive an invitation, which they’d be free to decline.
Agree, ML. There are a dozen reasons why H & M might not attend. Too much speculation from this story, reminding us to not believe everything we read.
This. Hugh is the one with the power here. If he wanted Harry at his wedding he would invite him, and Will could start borrowing private jet rides from somebody else.
I’m so glad I’m poor so I’ll never have to choose between members of the Royal Family to come to my wedding.
Bad father? Check.
Bitch of a wife? Check.
Rageaholic son? Check.
Mean girl wife wearing 9000 buttons and a bad wig? Check.
Normal, loving husband and wife? Sorry, no can do.
Right?! It really shows the character of all the folks lining up to support all the royal racists over the Sussexes. Plus, this guy is already a duke, FFS! Other than royalty, you can’t get any higher in the British class kiss-ass list than that. Was he raw-dogging it with Pegs? Is there blackmail involved? Or is this Duke just as racist as the left-behind Windsors and it’s a case of birds of a feather flocking together?
If it were me, I’d be making a point to show I’m NOT like the royal racists. I’d be making it clear what my values are.
@SussexWatcher “Plus, this guy is already a duke, FFS! Other than royalty, you can’t get any higher in the British class kiss-ass list than that.”
This is exactly my thoughts, Rose Hanbury proved that there is something higher than the Royal Family and their members. Rose wasn’t the one run out of town!
If there is one person who can invite whoever he wants it’s this Hugh guy. Who’s going to “snub” him? His peers? Not with that wealth and power at his fingertips. The RF? What would be his loss? Invitations for tea at… Where? Where is anybody living actually right now? Anyway, that is why I do not think that he is a very good friend.
This!
Why would harry and Meghan want to go with so called friends acting like backstabbers
Roya also posted a photo of an invite to the kristmas kate Karol PR fest. She’s earning her invite by writing this nonsense story coming from Kate. Only a pathetic twit like Kate who is desperate for acceptance would care about being invited to a . Society wedding or not.
Harry does not give a shit about a wedding, not when it would a gathering of the worst people there can be.
Kate is doing what Cowmilla did, feeding the tabloids to get good press.
It will be interesting to see if Mumbles actually attends this event – she hasn’t gone to past society weddings, Peggy has been going to them on his own. She has previous for going to those types of weddings and then mugging for the tipped off paps. If anyone is going to take attention away from the bride it’s Mumbles. Look at the Jordanian royal wedding – her mother and sister/BIL were also there mugging away.
I suspect that Harry and Hugh had already discussed it in an adult way and came to an agreement on it.
This leak absolutely has come from KP.
This. Kate NEEDS to attend events like this because after all these years, she is still insecure around truly posh, old money types like Hugh Grosvenor and the people who will make up much of the guest list. She needs constant adulation and reassurance that she’s the most special pretty princess in all the land.
William NEEDS to attend because, well, it’ll be at least one thing he’ll have that his brother doesn’t (even if Harry may not particularly want this thing in the first place).
If Hugh is still as close to Harry as Nikah suggests, the two of them likely discussed the matter privately and Harry took the high road and politely declined the invitation — perhaps for security reasons, or just so as not to steal the spotlight of a couple on their wedding day — and offered his and Meghan’s best wishes. H & M know who their true friends are, and they have nothing to prove.
KKKate has a need to be the best looking female at any event she attends. Will she flash something at this “society” wedding? There’s your overshadowing of the event right there.
She’d probably wear an almost-white outfit to steal the bride’s thunder.
She’ll wear government funded clothing to a private social event. Like she has before. The car will pause at the gate long enough to get a Dynasty posed shot of Kate perfect for photoshop and the tabloids. William will quickly find his buddies and leave her by the punch bowl.
This is all they could come up with, not being invited to a wedding next year.
Harry and Cain never had the same friends, because Cain never wanted to be around Harry.
The friends Harry trust are still his friends, notice they are no leaks now, because the so called friends are shut out.
LMAO who? It’s cute that they think Harry and Meghan even care.
So interesting – lists of all the acreage this guy has inherited and no mention of the $14 million mansion with the 98 bathrooms in Montecito.
So like Africa, the UK according to FK is mine, all mine so no one can offer my brother hospitality? Not a good look for future Head of CE and a raging revenge seeking man at Christmas is just appalling. I just wish WK would concentrate on their own family and royal duties without looking for ways to get HM boycotted here. Fed up with their nasty vendetta which right wing press are using to distract us from Tory mistakes being exposed at Covid enquiry.
I noticed that Simon Case, who was William’s private secretary who arranged the Flybe stunt, is too ill to attend the Covid inquiry this year. There was some very scathing commentary on social media
@Lauren Mr Case suddenly signed off with medical issue on the eve of his testimony – how suspicious is that?
This was all over the DM last night. Thing is, Hugh probably spoke to Harry first; Harry might have declined for reasons of press intrusion and concerns for his/their safety in the UK; and then Hugh invited William. I knew this racism issue would fall into the laps of W&K; they are LOVING the fall out and the renewed warmth towards them.
If this guy really is a friend, he can certainly speak up and refute this story. Unless, of course, friendship with PH takes a backseat to sucking up to the rest.
It will be interesting to see what he does – the Duke of Westminster reportedly owns “half of London”, so it’s not like he depends on William for notoriety. He could let it be known that both brothers were invited, but that Harry was unable to come (which totally makes sense).
Or, he can let William use this wedding as his own personal revenge vehicle.
I doubt he will say anything (but he should) but I would be so annoyed if I was him and his fiancee. I doubt they gave the approval for this story. I don’t know that much about him but I believe he is incredibly private. How annoying that your wedding is on every front page six months out because you are snubbing someone?
This story would not be out if they didn’t want it out. Hugh’s family is more connected and discreet than the royals. If they wanted to bury the story, it wouldn’t see the light of day.
Hugh was allegedly approached by The Times about this and said that he doesn’t discuss the (private?) guest list.
Kate isn’t commenting on the wedding as she’s busy looking at new outfits to wear. In white, I mean primrose, of course. And she’s hunting down the biggest shoulder pads produced. This does mean she won’t be available for the school run as along with her hectic day she also has to track down the gopher who has run off with her new favourite wig.
LOL!
Will Kate still be married and able to be William’s +1 in June 2024?
Actually this shindig would be prime hunting grounds for both the WanKs’ next love interests.
I believe the proper name for the colour is “gaslighter white”
Nikkhah tweeted yesterday that she was rushing to the Times office to file this royal scoop. Is she not embarrassed? And it’s hard to tell what is the scoop here? The noninvitation or the fact that someone is saying Grosvenor is Archie’s godfather? Neither are qualified to be called a scoop. The rota is composed of absolute weirdos.
Kate likely called her directly for this mess, which is why she called it a scoop. After Kate spoke to Camilla tominey too.
This isn’t KP scrambling, it’s just Kate. William does not give a shit about a wedding in 2024. This is petty shit that she obsesses over.
Last month a friend of the couple said the Sussexes would “not decline an invitation to spend time with His Majesty” over the Christmas or summer holidays at Sandringham or Balmoral, noting that “as of yet, there have not been any invitations for the holidays”.
She’s also now proclaiming the fake as hell Christmas story started after Harry and Meghan hard passed the story about Chuck’s birthday as fact now. Seriously, sit down and shut up. This is utterly pathetic.
DOES Hugh Grosvenor KNEW HE IS Prince Harry’s lifelong friend？
I’m realising how indistinguishable these guys are- I thought this was the friend that appeared in Harry and Megan!
Can’t wait for them to show up at this wedding, isn’t that what always happens lol.
I know it won’t happen but Hugh Grosvenor should uninvite or make sure the Wales are not invited after using his upcoming wedding in their lets snub Harry game. Seriously, who wants their special day to be overshadowed by that one-sided grudge. The Windsors sure love making everything about them and their one-sided drama.
Wouldn’t that be delicious?!! Hugh has the money and pedigree that would make it impossible for WandK to push him around, like K tried with Rose. But, who knows Hugh might truly be on Willy’s side, those aristocrats have a messed up sense of ethics and decency.
I think Hugh may be invested in the system that allows him to inherit 140,000 acres + another 300 in the heart of London.
Yeah, if there is anyone that doesn’t want to rock the aristo boat, it’s this guy. He also won’t be in favor of Harry getting stripped of his title, because self preservation with these people is their highest motivation.
Not another Wails imposing on and making demands about someone else’s wedding and totally making it about themselves instead! Willy Nilly sure likes throwing his weight around. This nonsense would cause most people to be uninvited. W’s “friendship” must be exhausting and I’m surprised there isn’t a shortage of headache medicine in the UK. I’m already feeling sorry for the bride. Maybe Special K will recycle the dress she wore to the Sussex wedding…
When I saw her tweeting that she had a royal scoop I honestly thought she had a briefing from Kate’s team about the racism story. I wasn’t expecting this non-story. I agree with Kaiser William told Westminster that he couldn’t invite Harry and Meghan and KP leaked this story to Roya Nikkhah. I doubt Harry and Meghan would have gone anyway. Plus it was always touted that Westminster was William’s friend not Harry’s. So I’m not sure they’re that close. He wasn’t acknowledged in Harry’s book.
I remember reading that Diana and Hugh’s mother Tally were good friends so I guess all of the kids played together. But you’re right Hugh wasn’t mentioned in the book. Maybe he was part of that group of Harry’s friends who sat around telling homophobic and misogynistic jokes in front of Meghan. The ones she had to put in check, allegedly?
Look at the age difference. Diana was dead before this duke was four years old. They cannot possibly be childhood friends. This is more of the same BS.
None of their childhood can line up logically. This is the aristocracy closing ranks against Meghan. Again.
William asked Hugh Grosvenor to be George’s godfather because he is very rich.
Willy and Kate used to borrow the Grosvenor jet to fly abroad before he started talking about the environment.
Non story it is.
They really don’t understand that to people not in their bubble this makes them – William, Kate and Roya look so stupid and petty.
Harry went to the Coronation and didn’t even spend 24 hrs. …..stupse.
This has William written all over it, he always assumes the things that matter the most to him (i.e. being invited to rich and influential people’s parties) matter to Harry as well. William basically bullying a friend to not only disinvite his brother, but leak about it the tabloids doesn’t speak well of him at all.
It could be that Hugh is still close with Harry – or it could be that being Archie’s godfather was more of a “family friend” courtesy, or he’s one of that circle of friends who have dropped Harry. If so, I hope this leaked story makes it clear that he backed the wrong horse! If it were my wedding, I’d be hugely annoyed that William is leaking details about the guest list to the tabloids and using me to get petty revenge.
It’s also entirely possible that the Sussexes have been contacted already and given their regrets, which is why this story is going ahead. Harry and Meghan rarely confirm invitations unless it’s for a royal event.
Or, Hugh isn’t Archie’s godfather. The press have no idea who is and are latching on to someone who “might” have been friends with both Willy and Harry, at one point in their lives.
Yeah, I don’t think this BM person, of all people, would have any knowledge into Archie’s godparents. Let’s not swallow their drivel without any critical thought.
“Or, Hugh isn’t Archie’s godfather.”
That may be true as well – I just mean that if it were true, being a godparent wouldn’t necessarily equate to them having a close relationship now.
At least in my family, the choice of godparents was symbolic, a way to incorporate an older generation of family friends.
I recall reading in a number of articles, that Willy frequently uses Hugh’s private jet for his vacations and what not. Hugh is probably a typical aristo, who is only too happy to suck up to and capitulate to the Incandescent Future King. I was just thinking that being Willy’s friend must be exhausting, very one sided and frankly, not a lot of fun.
Plus he’s probably gonna sleep with your wife. 🙄
😂😂 he’s gonna try but as we saw in his dating life most women don’t want to have anything to do with that, it’s not worth the bother.
That was when Hugh father was still alive (the late Duke was Peggys godfather), the son sold the private jet soon after he inherited everything. IIRC there was a story in the Fail about it.
I remember a story like that, but in any case, the Grosvenors still have a private jet, whether the same as when Gerald was alive or a different make, I don’t know. But it’s still a Cessna, owned by a company set up just for the jet.
The royals need to suck up to the Grosvenor’s because they are very rich and powerful.
Welp, if the bride shows up to her wedding wearing anything that remotely looks like what she wore for the official engagement photos, the Sussexes won’t be missing out on much. That’s my two cents…
LOL I agree! The outfit and hair looked like she’d just rolled out of bed and was still in her pyjamas…
BelizeEmpower and Vik, I really like the engagement photo. It’s not formal and instead it is casual. She’s lovely and has a great smile. So much better than a formal photo that doesn’t allow their personalities to show.
I don’t mind the informality at all and I dislike criticizing the woman for her hair and outfit, because it seems like once again the woman gets shat on and the man gets a pass. Hugh’s shirt looked a bit crumpled, but I find that Hugh struck the perfect balance for a casual outfit for a formal announcement. Olivia’s hair is ok, just for my taste way too long, at which point it looks unkempt and the outfit is for me typical pyjama/at home stuff, even the label was visible and the t-shirt had risen up. Literally like just out of bed and couldn’t be bothered for anything else. Hugh’s parents did a number of shoots in casual wear, those were also great. Casual, but put-together.
Edit: Hugh’s sister Edwina married Dan and the pic from their wedding they released is also casual, but still put-together!
At least they won’t have to buy a gift. 🤔
Yeah, I bet Kkkhate insists the Grosvenors buy *them* a gift 🤣
I would hope that the groom do the honorable thing and not invite either brother but make a personal call to both to explain why. This day belongs to the bride and groom only.
Not at this level of wealth and hereditary power. The Duke could still have strong friendly feelings for Harry and still feel himself unable to start an open and public war with the King and Prince of Wales. He’s as tied to this system, from the moment he was born, as either of the princes.
What this “exclusive” is doing is letting the aristos know that you can’t be friends with Harry in any public way and remain in good graces with the monarchy. The Duke of Westminster is a big fecking deal. His father was richer than the Queen. No idea what death duties took, but the son is certainly one of the wealthiest men in England, and a Duke, and owns a huge chunk of London’s most expensive real estate. If William is screaming at him on the front pages of the newspapers, he can do it to anyone.
As to the real estate wealth: In the UK, a lot of the best land is owned by these hereditary landowners. So when you go to buy a house, very often you are buying the house, but the land underneath it is on a 99 year lease from someone like the Duke of Westminster (or Duchies of Cornwall or Lancaster). If you look at UK estate listings, it will say “freehold” if you are buying the house and the land together.
@Concern Fae – “No idea what death duties took…” They didn’t take a single pound, it is in a trust that Hugh is the beneficial owner of not the legal owner. That is how they all get around paying any estate tax.
It would be nice if someone like Hugh had some courage (like Harry did) to break the cycle so that everyone didn’t have to play these games any longer. On paper Hugh seems to be a decent minded person, he’d be the perfect person to break the cycle.
Apparently, the Duke avoided death duties, the old-fashioned way: through trusts.
https://twitter.com/bladeofthes/status/1726293714698719442?s=61&t=9TaAsfwrl1H_hiFD2SEi3A
These aristo marriages don’t usually last esp if the wife is from a different class as Olivia is, so I guess we’ll see
Can’t they just have their two babies and go about their affairs? Does it never work if the wife is from a hopelessly middle class background with monogamous parents?
Is Olivia from a different class? She went to school with Eugenie (or Beatrice?) and met Hugh throgh “mutual friends”. I think she’s “landed gentry”.
His former longterm girlfriend was from a very ordinary background. This wife to be is posh.
How is this a good look for Westminster? By choosing Team Wales, he is siding with Team Racist. Perhaps he doesn’t care and wants to stay on Jeffrey Baratheon’s circle. Also it’s Kate who wants that invite. The aristocracy still think she and the Middletons are trash and Uncle Gary and the Party Pieces grift kind of cements that image. That crowd respects the title of queen consort but not the woman who’ll one day hold it, if that.
I’m sort of fascinated by Logan Huntsberger here. Not much info on his fiance. Does that mean she isn’t an aristo? The one pic I found supports the comment someone here made that London at lunchtime is packed with Kate lookalikes. Does every titled man seek a slender brunette?
He’s totally giving Logan Huntsberger vibes!
His mother Natalia is actually descended from a Black man with a fascinating history— Abram Petrovich Gannibal. He was captured and enslaved as a child by Ottomans in Africa in the 17th C and ended up in the Russian court of Peter the Great, where he was adopted and brought up as a nobleman. I’d be interested to know Hugh’s real thoughts …
This Hugh guy is only 32 years old. Very unlikely he was even in school at the same time as Harry since Harry is 39, and Will is 41.
Doubtful beyond aristocratic connections that Hugh/Harry/Will are lifelong friends in my mind.
LMAO! The math is so obvious when you put it like that. Unless Harry was babysitting in high school for some pocket money.
That would mean that William made Hugh godfather to George when he was only 22. Apparently, the families are close, but let’s be honest; it’s bc this guy is heir to a whole lot of 💰
Word. I would love to know how many godchildren this guy and Willnot have. It has to be hundreds, right?
Both families are close .
Hugh’s is King Charles’s godson
Hugh is one of Prince George’s godfathers.
Hugh’s mother Natalia is godmother to Prince William, and
Princess Diana was godmother to one of his sisters, Lady Edwina Grosvenor.
They’re relations through the Romanovs as well. Plus the Westminsters have been tight with the royals since the Victorian era. The queen and Philip were especially tight with Hugh’s grandparents and other relations. The ties are long and deep. The connections are fascinating.
Side note—Hugh is a descendant of the African general Hannibal .
They continue to follow the same outline even though it has become glaringly apparent to anyone paying attention, and in the last few years the audience of those paying attention has grown greatly. The ship is sinking and they are still operating like clueless fools.
Exactly how Old is William and royah Nikki? He is playing at being king at his play date and she is obviously still in preschool undecided what she wants to be when she grows up.
The disrespect and attempt to diminish Oprah is striking to me. Here we have one of the wealthiest Black woman in America, yet the rota rats call her derisive names. Why? Because her Blackness disqualifies her achievements and even her wealth in racists’ eyes.
Yes indeed, racism, hatefulness, and vitriol have come to define Salty Isle for me. Quite frankly I’ve never seen people more devoted to their bigotry, not even the MAGAs here (and they are shit stains to be sure). As a Black woman, I’d rather take my chances with the MAGAs.
@Beverley I agree. Add the Soap Oprah comment to the comments from Sophie pretending she didn’t know who Oprah was and it says everything you need to know about the toxic RF.
Tally Westminster is William’s godmother and I think the late Duke was Harry’s. The families were close at one point. Hugh was born long after his sisters as the last chance of having a son. The title is fairly new, since the 19th century. It was the last non-royal Dukedom given out. A previous Duke had a long affair with Chanel between marriages.
Hugh’s father had a dodgy past which must have been awful for his wife to stomach…..
NewsCorp doesn’t just own HarperCollins. They put the entity together, merging the companies William Collins and Harper & Row they acquired in the 1980’s, not long after Murdoch established the original NewsCorp holding company. So, the Murdoch roots run deep; it’s been a significant part of the his empire for well over 30 years (and HC has acquired many other publishing companies along the way). It’ll be very interesting to see how all this plays out.
As far as the wedding goes, the fuss the press will make in the coming months about Harry/Meghan not attending is nothing compared to the complete meltdown the BM would have if he/they did come, completely overshadowing anything else. Other considerations aside (Sussex security, where to stay, etc.) if Harry and Hugh are in fact friends, the best wedding gift Harry could give him is to stay home.
Just reading “Endgame”, and am impressed with Scobie who is pointing out serious issues about the monarchy. This little leak from KP is a case in point… it’s pretty clear who leaked this information, and it’s pretty clear that they have no idea that it makes William look bad, not Harry.
Stories like this just make William look like he doesn’t have the emotional intelligence or maturity to serve as sovereign. William being petty, freezing out his brother, William’s rages… none of it makes him look good. And he seems clueless about that, as do his advisors. The monarchy is on the fast-track to irrelevance.
“It is understood,” everyone is farting keenily. What a bunch of dummies.
🤣🤣🤣
I highly doubt Hugh and Harry are still friends, if they ever were, because Harry’s friends, e.g. Nicky, have been to Montecito and/or supported them at several Invictus events.
I don’t believe Hugh is godfather to Archie. AFAIK, Archie’s godparents are 2f, 2m – and Roya “could reveal” Mark Dwyer and Charlie van Straubenzee earlier. So where does HG fit in now?
That said, he’s the perfect foil to Bulliam’s initiative to end homelessness, as he’s one of those British landlords who are infamous of evicting (social housing) tenants, if they feel like building luxury apartments on their properties, rules of law be d*mned. His latest attempt, a few years ago, was called social cleansing – and failed, because he got so much negative publicity.
I’m sure he doesn’t quite align with the Sussexes’ values, and H&M couldn’t care less about him.
Social cleansing???? OMG!!!!
I’m with you, this is horrifying!
If Hugh has any kind of self respect AND respect for his fiancé, he will put out a statement calling this bullsht. Pointing out that no one knows who Is on his guest list, no one knows who has accepted or not and (if Harry has decided not to come) saying that he and Harry had a long amicable conversation just last week and it was HARRY who decided not to come, as he wanted our wedding to be about US not the quests.
And maybe someone should send Royah Nikki a schools curriculum and ages, and a bloody CALCULATOR!!
This article is meant to put Hugh into a corner. He it is writting by bully boy peg william. I am pretty sure Hugh had nothing to do with it. They sent the trial balloon to see who will bite. They are trying to find out what H&M are up to. Hell is knocking at these people doors. They will find out soon enough. I can feel it in my bones. Karma is on its way.
If it was published by murdoch isn’t it likely someone in the company put the names on the book to cause chaos and try to hurt Meghan and harry but also serve as a threat to the other royals?
That really does feel like the most likely scenario.
It takes out Harry, Meghan, and Omid Scobie, in one fell swoop.
So the current Duke is one of George’s godfathers and the Duke’s mother is William’s godmother? I don’t think the Duke’s father was Harry’s godfather. In anything I’ve read, it’s William and Charles who have a close relationship with the family. I don’t recall reading anything about Harry and Hugh being “life long friends” and considering the age difference it’s hard to believe that they would have ever been in the same schools at the same time. I find that Hugh being a god-father to Archie implausible. I think they made this stuff up to trash Harry and make it clear how firmly he is rejected by both the royal family and the aristocracy. Not only does this not look good for anyone, but any reporting on the wedding will not fail to mention the absence of Harry and Meghan because of the closeness of the Windsors and the Duke of Westminster’s family. And a weird time for this story to be planted since the wedding is next year. Someone just wants to take a punch at Harry. And what a knock at a little boy who is still hopefully ignorant about everything that he will not get to be a page at some society wedding.
Pictures have been published of Harry and Hugh together in Africa in some conservation park around 2015, so there clearly is some kind of bond between them.
My take? It’s Olivia and Hugh’s wedding. They don’t want massive press intrusion and the story being about WanK and their fued. Also it’s a long way to go.
Then it would make no sense to invite W&K PERIOD, with or without PH.
Or Chuck and Cam.
Too late now though, Cath, because – as we’ve seen with any other possible opening (and even on topics completely unrelated) – the rota rats will spend between now and the wedding writing approximately 24,884 articles about the wedding and the Sussexes. Inserting Harry and Meghan’s name into any and every thing to do with the wedding. Articles will be written about how sad Harry is that Prince Archie won’t be a pageboy, about how this shows no one likes Meghan, about Pegs threatening to go full incandescent Hulk mode if anyone mentions Harry going to the wedding…and a day later about how this is all Harry’s fault because Pegs was going to use the wedding as an olive branch to repair the relationship. This is the rota rats’ standard operating procedure – anything for clicks, regardless of accuracy or common sense.
It sounds to me that it was Princess Di, and possibly KFC, who were friends with Hugh’s parents. The age difference between Hugh and Wont and Harry means they weren’t friend in school. Perhaps ‘friend of the family’ because of C&D, but I can’t imagine much beyond that. If Hugh is George’s godfather, I wonder if Hugh accepted with alacrity or if he felt he didn’t have a choice but to say yes? Interesting dynamic with the aristocrats.
It seems that the only ones who are interested in this are the ones in the bm? I cannot imagine flying to England from the west coast of the US to attend a wedding of someone who is an acquaintance. Secondly, why would I do that if it meant taking attention away from the bride and groom? The bm have to work hard to come up with crap like this. Like anyone cares.
I don’t think, they have ever attended a wedding after they left. It would be a huge security issue + media would make it all about them. Media always writes about the weddings Harry isn’t attending and trying to find a punishment in it. The reason is simple imo, it is just a big inconvenience, both for H&M and any bride & groom.
It would be hilarious if William goes without Kate
They’d probably be grateful if KM didn’t go, the Grosvenors will be well aware of what she’s really like. Doubt she’ll want to show her face.
And didn’’t Pippa Middleton once try her luck with Hugh Grosvenor? The Grosvenors will be delighted if KM doesn’t go
Pip was trying to land George Percy, never heard of her going after Hugh.
Oh, I think the odds are pretty good he goes alone. Or at least without his wife. It’d be a perfect opportunity to spend the weekend with his sidepiece(s) while Kkkeen is ‘looking after the children.’
And if they had been invited but decided not to come the tabloids would have whined about that too.
Or how about he just disinvite William and Kate too. I can see him not inviting Charles as a snub because that’s his godfather. But given he is so much younger than William, I have a hard time believing Hugh is that close to William or that they were close growing up (they are nine years apart). But if he’s one of the weenie aristos who is afraid to rock the boat/lose power among the BRF, I don’t expect much from him. But I would be pretty mad if I were him that his wedding was being used as another episode in the Sussex/BRF rift and just disinvite all the royals. His bride must be especially upset that her wedding is being focused on in this way. If Hugh was a decent person, he probably would have called up Harry to discuss it with him and ask his thoughts on the best way to handle it. Harry may have told him he and Meghan would skip his wedding to make sure the attention was on him and his bride and not cause drama with William/Charles, since the press will focus on the Sussexes wherever they go. William then spun it into “Meghan and Harry were disinvited” making him look like the insecure man he is.
I hope Hugh sends a private message to Harry and Meghan and apologize for doing what he deems practical in the situation. He can also let the press know he has nothing but the highest esteem for the Sussexes, but that would take more guts. But, hey, he’s rich, what can they really do to him? Also, he looks 14 years old.
This makes Hugh look like a fair weather friend.
Over the last like 10 years the british have looked terrible. Whether it’s being workshy, hypocrites (they are big immigrants but voted to leave the EU partly do to immigration), or just flat out liars. I hope they pick a good prime minister next year. They need solid plans or they will increasingly be left out.
Hugh who?
Roya who?
🦗🦗🦗
He owns 300 acres in Belgravia and Mayfair?! Holy Hell. I cannot imagine how wealthy this guy is. And all inherited, too. Meanwhile Harry, a literal Prince of Great Britain and son of a hugely wealthy family, a combat veteran, had to rely on his tight-fisted father, live in a house in which he could barely stand up and shop at TK Maxx.
Sorry, I know that’s not the point of the story but that is some mind-boggling money.
And let me tell them, a majority of people outside the UK wouldn’t give a f&&@ck.
Not much of a “friend”, is he?! Probably one of the “friends” who trash talked H & M. When you take the kings schilling, you take the kings pound. (Trying not to say pounding. 😂😂)
lol doubt Harry and Meghan care about this wedding! Please
How many POCs do we think will be attending this wedding? My money is on none.
Interesting take on the Duke of Westminster’s wealth and tax status (avoidance).
https://twitter.com/bladeofthes/status/1726293714698719442?s=61&t=9TaAsfwrl1H_hiFD2SEi3A
The rich get richer, the poor get the picture.
Apparently, not yet!
There are plenty of published articles online that say the Grosvenor trust pays six million on a schedule in death duties. So that is six million on this day, another six million on the next day.
Back when the government hit the aristocracy all at once many of them had to sell their estates. The Grosvenors had had to sell their land in London in Pulmico (sp?) to cover the entire bill when Hugh’s father inherited. Undoubtedly, they Grosvenors want to avoid another situation like that one.
Dear Royal Family,
For the second time, your shenanigans look to overshadow a wedding in the Grosvenor family. You may remember us as your private jet pilots and godparents to various of your Family members. There was a bit of a fuss about Camilla attending a wedding, Charles pulling out and yada yada yada we feel the need to brief on background to the Daily Mail that we’re getting a bit bored with all of it.
We’ve rung Harry and Meghan and sorted it all out. Harry’s willing to take one for the team and not attend (I heard Meghan in the background saying “I’m so over this, Harry what do you want on your pizza?” so we believe in American this means she’s not attending either).
Because we’re aristos to the core (even if arrivistes compared to, say, the Spencers), we are proud to welcome the King and his heir and their women to my wedding. I expect that no teeth will be broken?
Yours affectionately, Hugh
(PS from the Westminster foundation PR: We didn’t want to brief the media because saying anything to the British tabloids just keeps the story running and gains more publicity, but we work for him so whatevs. Happy Christmas everybody!)
Rsvp to a wedding are send about 8 to 6 weeks before the event not 6 months so this reads as nonsense
There’s a DM article today (https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/royals/article-12824003/Real-reason-Duke-Westminster-axed-Harry-Meghan-wedding-guestlist-Royals-childhood-friend-feared-history-repeating-row-invite-Camilla-overshadowed-sisters-wedding.html) that is pretty, pretty catty about Camilla and why the Sussexes were not invited. I’m not sure who briefed on this but it’s fun. And basically blames the BRF and their tantrums. No one wants them to ruin another ‘society wedding of the year.’