Prince Harry will snub Hugh Grosvenor’s wedding to avoid ‘awkwardness’ with William

Last December, there was a weeks-long controversy involving billionaire Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster, and the Windsor clan. Hugh is engaged and his wedding is scheduled for June 7th. It’s set to be the British society wedding of the year, with a guest-list full of titled nobility, royalty and a who’s who of British society. The Grosvenor family is very rich, very powerful and they stay far away from the British tabloids. The Grosvenors aren’t playing a short-term game of one-upmanship with the royals. So it was definitely weird when Prince William seemingly dragged Hugh’s wedding into his (Will’s) beef with Prince Harry.

Last December, there was suddenly a treasury of well-sourced articles in the Times, Telegraph and Mail about how Hugh Grosvenor had purposefully snubbed the Sussexes and refused to invite them to his wedding because of his loyalty to Huevo and the Windsors. These stories were clearly part of a briefing spree from Kensington Palace, and the whole thing looked tacky and classless on William’s part, to use Hugh’s name and Hugh’s wedding to “snub” Harry. Hilariously, Page Six got an interesting tip that Hugh actually did send the Sussexes an invitation and Harry had already called Hugh and personally apologized for not being able to make it. Which I believe. Now, months later, royal experts are trying to revive the controversy (started by Huevo) and make it sound like the whole thing is… Meghan’s fault.

Prince Harry will not attend the Duke of Westminster’s wedding later this summer because it will be ‘too awkward’ with Prince William, an expert has claimed.

The event, which will take place on 7 June 2024 at Chester Cathedral, will see the marriage between Hugh Grosvenor and Olivia Henson take place. It’s likely to be the event of the summer, with royals such as King Charles, Queen Camilla, the Prince of Wales and the Princess of Wales all invited. However there have long been rumours about whether the Duke of Sussex would be in attendance at the event.

A source previously Page Six that the Duke of Sussex turned down a ‘save the date’ to the Duke of Westminster’s wedding to avoid an ‘awkward’ encounter with the other members of the royal family. Prince Harry was said to have called the Duke himself to apologise for any inconvenience at him having to refuse. At the time, it was said that the Duchess of Sussex was also invited to the wedding but, like her husband, would not attend. In recent weeks, speculation ramped up that Prince Harry could attend the event – with some suggesting the nuptials would see the brothers reunited face-to-face for the first time since Kate Middleton’s cancer diagnosis. According to Ephraim Hardcastle’s column, published mid-March, a ‘society guessing game’ was taking place over whether Prince Harry will show up at the event.

Now an expert appears to have laid rest to the rumours, saying Prince Harry did, in fact, decline to attend the event. Speaking to The Mirror, royal author Tom Quinn said Harry declined on the grounds that it would just be ‘too awkward’. He said, ‘But there are other reasons – Harry knows he can’t attend without Meghan and Meghan has absolutely insisted she won’t be there.’

He also claimed that Prince William will be in attendance, in large part due to the fact that Hugh is one of Prince George’s godparents.

[From Tatler]

I was actually thinking about Hugh’s wedding in recent weeks because I wondered if anyone would write about the Princess of Wales and whether she would be well enough to attend the June wedding. Considering they’re iffy on Kate’s attendance at Trooping the Colour on June 15, it will be interesting to see if Kate goes. That should be the bigger conversation, not a repeat of William’s unhinged tantrum about a billionaire’s society wedding. As I said, I totally believe Hugh did invite the Sussexes and that Harry politely turned him down. It has nothing to do with Meghan, these people are just grasping for an excuse why Harry isn’t desperate to beg for their approval and socialize with the crème de la crème of Britain’s horse people.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images, Instar.

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87 Responses to “Prince Harry will snub Hugh Grosvenor’s wedding to avoid ‘awkwardness’ with William”

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  1. Tessa says:

    William is the one who should feel shame afyer the way he behaved

    • Robert Phillips says:

      With the way Williams been acting lately. He probably wont show up either. Why aren’t the press printing this?

  2. Nubia says:

    William is so tack its unbelievable at this point. And he thinks himself a classy Prince.

    • Charter says:

      Omg I love that, he’s not just the Pegger, he’s now the Tacky Prince! Woot!

  3. Jais says:

    The way this played out in the papers is so trashy. The Windsors mostly come across as having no class.

    • Agnes says:

      As much as it’s possible to feel sorry for a zillionaire who owns most of England, I feel sorry for the Duke of Westminster being mentioned in the same bad breath as Willy Wonky Wales.

      • Charter says:

        Only slightly though.. As you said, half of England.. And that’s why they’re pissed.. Suddenly people realise, half of England

  4. Cj says:

    It’s not even good fan fiction by this point.

    Unless Kate has become so delusional as to actually think Harry would travel back to see her and do a wedding solo. A) he’s not William so he doesn’t attend wedding without his partner 👀 and B) this is not the lifetime movie where the woman splitting from her terrible ex crosses paths with the cute one that got away for a do-over at love.

    There is never again going to be a “three musketeers” of H, K and W. God forbid, even if half of California floated away and Meg and the kids were on the new floating island, and Harry decided to overlook his entire family to return to the U.K. and the firm… he isn’t going to want anything to do with his sister in law. Time to accept it.

  5. equality says:

    So Tom Quinn, who has likely never met Meghan, knows all about what is going on in their household? Why can’t PH attend without Meghan? He has attended other things in the UK solo. PW has attended weddings without Kate. But now there’s some rule against that? And Grosvenor is a close personal confidante of Quinn?

  6. Advisor2U says:

    Whatever.
    Harry knows that Meghan was never and is not into that aristo thing. Royalty was by marriage, aristo is by choice. These are not the type of people she chooses to hanghout and have meaningful conversations with. They are known for being snobs and racist. Just like the royals, as she found out the hard way.

    • ABritGuest says:

      a Black journalist tweeted in 2020 that a mutual friend had been at a society wedding before H&M stepped back, where Meghan was discussed & apparently the racism towards her was off the chains. Whilst I think security issues in the uk is probably the key reason why Meghan wouldn’t attend- I doubt she misses that side of Uk life

      • Becks1 says:

        Yeah, remember the story where H&M were at a hunting party or something (one of those weekend house parties) and Meghan “made” Harry leave early bc she “couldn’t handle”* the racist, sexist and homophobic jokes/comments that were apparently constantly being tossed around. Whether true or not, that story was clearly designed to make Meghan look bad – she can’t take a joke, she controls Harry, she divides him from his friends, etc – when for the average person, it makes the aristos look bad….like they’re racist, sexist etc. It’s a story designed to paint her in a negative light but it really does the opposite.

        *the story was “couldnt handle,” I think “wouldn’t tolerate” is better.

    • Maddie says:

      I thought William was super busy with the school run and can’t do anything. So he can’t work but he can attend a wedding. Got it

  7. Dee(2) says:

    The press wants Harry to attend because William or any of the others attending won’t get them the clicks. I’m not even sure Kate attending would get them sustained clicks. So it has to be evil Meghan won’t let him come rather than he’s really over us, isn’t he? It chaps their asses that they have engineered or overemphasized the importance of so many events that they assumed would make him trot back to the UK like a loyal dog and he still isn’t coming.

    • SarahCS says:

      Exactly, they wouldn’t even be writing about it if they couldn’t create supposed ‘drama’ about Harry.

    • Dutch says:

      Again this is a no-win for Harry. He doesn’t attend it’s a “snub.” Harry does attend, his presence helps turns this wedding into a clown show (and HE gets the blame, not the clowns covering it all).

  8. Becks1 says:

    It was classy on Harry’s part to let Hugh know when he got the STD that he wouldn’t attend (if indeed that’s how it happened), just to remove the uncertainty and let the wedding planning go on without having to account for William’s temper.

    As for the attendees….it will be interesting to see if Charles attends (he went to Easter service but that was likely a very small crowd inside the chapel and he probably had his own row or several rows), and it will be interesting to see if William attends….well, anything between now and then. He has two months, it would be such a bad look if he attends the wedding when he missed Easter and the memorial service but william does what he wants soooo….

    if Kate makes her “return” at that wedding it would be such bad etiquette, since she knows she would be the center of attention. But that’s pretty on par with her behavior at other weddings so who knows? Maybe she’ll get a new white coatdress for this one.

    • Jais says:

      “Maybe she’ll get a new white coat dress for this one” 😂😂😂. Lies! It was PRIMROSE YELLOW! 😂

    • Shawna says:

      There’s a possibility both Waleses will make asses of themselves at the wedding. Another broken tooth, William?

      • Kingston says:

        You guys are talking about a possible June wedding appearance for kittykat meanwhile KP is prolly shidtting bricks wondering what lie they can come up with to explain what I strongly believe will be another no-show as kitty remains missing.

        They hv already tried giving their sycophants something to hold on to by hinting tht she might appear for trooping (June 15) even as they refuse to confirm it.

        So i’m kinda on the side of: she wont be seen in public again for the rest of the yr. If ever.

    • HeatherC says:

      I need to finish my tea. I didn’t think that STD meant Save The Date so I went back and reread the whole article because I didn’t remember any mention of THAT!

    • Proud Mary says:

      “if Kate makes her ‘return’ at that wedding it would be such bad etiquette.” I have a sinking feeling you have nothing to worry about. Given all that’s since transpired, the question is, will William be attending, and if so, will he be alone?

    • SarahCS says:

      Given everything we have seen (literally due to the lack of weighted hems for many years) of this woman (hot pink at the 9/11 memorial, funeral photoshoot, etc.) this would be totally on-brand for her.

    • rosa mwemaid says:

      Nice one. Although trying to overshadow a mere Duchess is not so much fun as trying to overshadow her SIL.

    • rosa mwemaid says:

      Can’t see her doing the same to the Grosvenors as she did to Meghan. It all seemed rather petty.

  9. ML says:

    This never happened.

    Anyway, this also makes no sense: “Harry knows he can’t attend without Meghan and Meghan has absolutely insisted she won’t be there.’” You know, sometimes people do attend a wedding without their partner. If they don’t attend, it’s not because of Meghan.

    • BlueNailsBetty says:

      That part is so stupid. Of course Harry can attend the wedding on his own. People are allowed to do things without their spouse. If Meghan doesn’t want to attend then I’m sure she’ll be fine with whatever Harry decides to do. His attending the wedding doesn’t signify anything other than him wanting to be supportive to his friend.

      And if Meghan wants to attend a wedding and Harry doesn’t she is free to go by herself.

      We live in the gorram 21st century and these writers still have archaic ways of thinking.

      • rosa mwemaid says:

        You may think it is OK but the gutter press will put the worse possible connotation on it that they can.

      • rosa mwemaid says:

        The gutter press will put the worse connotation on it whatever they do.

    • Isabella says:

      How would a reporter even know what H&M discussed in their own home?

  10. Interested Gawker says:

    It’s so peculiar and immature to keep running to the press insisting H&M are snubbed or snubbing in these social events when they left England YEARS ago. I’m sure the aristocracy don’t want this kind of scrutiny placed on their private events and the bride’s family is probably livid. When will they get William in hand? This jealousy and obsession over his brother is really demented.

  11. Shawna says:

    It is so funny that the tabloids have a new “Will X come to Y?” perpetual motion machine, but because it’s Kate, they keep rebooting the old, dusty one.

  12. Amy Bee says:

    I did see some papers reviving this story which led me to believe that the briefings to Royal Nikkhah and Rebecca English weren’t true. I tend to believe Harry’s not going but not because it’s going to be awkward but because he can’t fit it in his schedule. Unlike the other royals and aristos he actually works for a living.

    • Emma says:

      I tend to agree, with an added dash of ‘he doesn’t want any part of the pyschodrama’. Plus, if he’s actually good friends with ol’ Hugh, he probably doesn’t want to turn his wedding into a publicity fiasco, on account of him being a reasonable human being, and he knows that would happen if he went, either with or without Meghan.

    • ABritGuest says:

      I think Roya’s article was possibly William signaling to the groom not to invite Harry. There was also hints about William being a best man which seemed to me William campaigning for the role or something.

      I remember it was a whole big deal in the uk media about H&M being “snubbed” only for months later to claim Harry turned down an invite 🙄

      My guess is Harry won’t attend this wedding because the coverage would turn into Windsor soap opera which isn’t fair on the couple getting married & plus he still has unresolved security issues in the uk. I think he’s trying to mitigate security risks by coming in & out quickly & mainly unannounced whereas everyone has known date of this wedding for months.

      The press keep talking about Meghan not coming to the uk cos she’s done with the country when actually based on Harry’s security case- security is a factor for her & the kids.

      I’m betting William will be there & one of the kids will have a role

      • equality says:

        He is George’s godfather so George might be in the wedding, at least. But with W&K being unreliable to appear at anything, it might be taking a risk to have him in an important role.

      • BeanieBean says:

        I think Harry weighed how close is this friend vs. time/cost of travel, time away from home, family, & work vs. again, how close is this friend? And decided, naw, just send me the gift registry & we’ll call it good.

      • Tessa says:

        I don’t think William will bring any of the children

    • rosa mwemaid says:

      When I first saw the keep the date open story it was projected as he said no because his presence would draw attention away from the bride and groom. Just as it did with the Jubilee, more stories about Meghan and Harry being criticised for behaving impeccably in the Excess than there were about the late Queen.

  13. Tessa says:

    It is so weird how some in media have this fanciful idea of harry rushing over to see kate.

  14. Miranda says:

    “Harry knows he can’t attend without Meghan”

    He attended the actual coronation of his father, a historic event that is far more momentous than anybody’s wedding, by himself. Meghan appears to have encouraged him to keep lines of communication open with relatives and friends, even those who have disrespected her and their children. GTFO of here with that scapegoating bullshit.

  15. Jan says:

    I don’t think Harry is scared of Cain, he just doesn’t want to be anywhere near him. I honestly think Harry feels sad for his brother, all the money he has and is still miserable.
    If Cain and Chucky had not spent the last 4 years trying to ruin Harry and Meghan’s lives, the BRF would not be the joke they’re Worldwide, and the fake photos and videos didn’t help.

    • one of the marys says:

      I don’t think either brother wants to be anywhere near the other. the question is, can William maintain his composure or will he lose it? And if he does will Harry clock him one!

      I believe there was a time Harry felt sorry for William. He may still feel some pity but I’d say it’s mostly disdain these days.

      • Jais says:

        So from what we’ve seen at public events, William is capable of not losing it with Harry in front of the cameras. The funeral walkabout for example when Kate acted poorly while William actually acted fine. Of course, that was pre-Spare and there were cameras. I’m not sure Harry would want to be privately near William unless there were neutral witnesses. Or at least I wouldn’t want to be anyways. Harry didn’t clock him last time when they were in private so I doubt he’d clock him at a wedding with witnesses. I don’t think William would either. He keeps that private.

      • Becks1 says:

        I think William could keep it together at the wedding like Jais said. he’s done it before, he’s much better in public with Harry than Kate is. I mean they’re not walking arm in arm, but I think if you watched them with no idea of the background or who they were, you might think they were business associates who felt neutral about each other. Kate’s the one whose face and behavior gives her away every time. But it doesn’t mean the cameras won’t be on Harry and William and it doesn’t mean the press won’t talk about it nonstop, which may be what Harry wants to avoid.

        Anyway, June 7 is the date of the wedding. Lili’s bday is June 4. It’s entirely possible they have that weekend blocked out for bday celebrations and Harry is going to 100% priortize her bday over this wedding.

  16. Ann says:

    Geez, this is so juvenile. Off topic, this is the first time I noticed that Kate and William were not sitting next to one another at H&M’s wedding. Who would order this weird seating arrangement literally between a husband and wife? I bet it was Cruella Camilla.

    • HeatherC says:

      I remember reading somewhere that Kate or William (most likely Kate) changed the placecards at the table themselves because “that’s just how it’s done, spouses don’t sit with each other.”

      • Amy Bee says:

        @HeatherC: Harry said in his book that William and Kate changed the place cards at the reception. It wasn’t at the wedding.

      • HeatherC says:

        @AmyBee I knew I read something somewhere lol. I really have to finish my tea and then refill it before posting haha

    • Amy Bee says:

      @Ann: William was “best man” at the wedding, so he just sat in the next available seat when his duties were no longer required.

    • Berkeleyfarm says:

      What I have heard through bits and pieces here was that most couples were seated together at the reception and W&K changed their places around.

      For very formal events of this nature including royal weddings the old-school etiquette is to not seat couples together unless they are engaged or newlyweds. You would sit with your spouse at the ceremony, but not at dinner.

      (Yes, you do see this in other royal houses for occasions of state. And it tends to be done differently on this side of the pond.)

  17. Proud Mary says:

    OMG! Are we back to this distraction again??? First it was all kinds of ridiculous noise from a whole lotta empty vessels about how Harry was “snubbed” because Bulliam had insisted on it. Then, as Kaiser says, it was revealed that Harry had in fact received a safe-the-date, but turned down a future invite. Why is this one resurfacing again? Oh yes . . . . . . somebody’s disappeared and we are not supposed to ask questions about it. I think the real issue is, will William be attending sans her.

  18. Well we need something to keep the Sussexes names in the paper to cover for the missing leftovers. So it begins that Harry won’t go. I never thought he would go and who’s to say that Peg will even make it. He didn’t go to his beloved godfathers funeral at the last minute. Just where are the missing Wales

  19. Taffeta says:

    That poor couple. For their sakes I hope none of the royals are there.

    • Jais says:

      Eh, actually it’s a very very rich couple. I feel like they probably internally just roll their eyes. I’m sure the wedding will be lovely despite the tabloids focusing on the royals. Better the royals than them. Although if Kate makes her first public appearance at this wedding, yeah that would be annoying AF

      • Kelsey says:

        I think they meant “poor couple” in “those poor babies” type way haha. Because I also feel for them. Planning their biggest day of their lives and it’s going to be overshadowed by the screeching of The Wails and The League of Harry Trackers.

  20. Advisor2U says:

    It would be interesting to see an insiders William version of Scoop in a view years time.

    Andew was disliked by the palace staff and people who had to deal/work with him, for his pump, ruthlessness, entitlement and arrogance.

    William is disliked by the wider family (even the queen told this to a confidant, I read somewhere), and for or his unpredicted angry outbusts, jealousy/greed, entitlement and laziness. And he thinks he knows everything better than anyone else, hence why he hardly takes advices. But in fact he’s so insecure and full with spite and rage (e.g. towards his brother) that his advisers, the media barons and the Tories know exactly how to lead him on, without him even realizing it (in time). The last part would be funny to watch in a streaming biopic/movie.

  21. Avonan says:

    The Kaiser-curated pic selection of “shy” Kate performing for the cameras at Eugenie and Jack’s 2018 wedding is chef’s kiss. Especially in contrast with discreetly attired Meghan and Harry, shown just trying to escape wind and fanfare. Keen is always front and center, grabbing the spotlight, whether at a wedding, funeral, Eurovision singing contest, Chelsea Flower show….

    I presume Olivia Henson and Hugh Grosvenor are holding their collective breath, hoping for a drama-free wedding on June 7.

  22. aquarius64 says:

    The duke and his fiancée must be livid that their wedding is being used as a backdrop for the Windsor family fused. Harry was right to send regrets for him and Meghan; it’s the couple’s day and the BM would spoil it. No confirmation of Kate attending? I’m being to think she is locked up in the Tower.

  23. tamsin says:

    The favourite word is “snubbed”. They even speak about “snubbing” baby Lili. Their classism is never absent from their commentary. Did Charles not make a big fuss about at the wedding of one of Hugh’s sisters and boycotted because Camilla was not seated beside him? I believe either the groom or the bride’s mother put her foot down- something having to do with the Queen and Philip attending and it wouldn’t be proper. Anyway, Charles had a tantrum, so like father like son. I imagine Harry and Meghan would be invited, and that Harry seeing what was likely to happen, phoned Hugh and personally explained as a friend why he would not want his wedding to have a social scandal. William would have a tantrum-like father like son. My question is, will Kate attend? And will George be a page? It seems like a good idea for the bride and groom to just have their nephews and nieces. Or would High “dare” snub a future king? So much for the rats to write about!

  24. MaryContrary says:

    Eh. I think William will go alone-Kate never seems entirely comfortable with all of those aristos.

  25. Lau says:

    And what if William bails out of that wedding at the very last minute like he always does these days ? That would be extremely funny.

  26. B says:

    Lol Harry attended his father’s coronation and his grandfather’s funeral without Meghan but now he couldn’t possibly attend a society wedding without her??

    Lol he went to England on his own for his Mother’s statue unveiling and was alone with his brother and Spencer relatives but now a huge society wedding with hundreds of guests would be to awkward?

    These press lies aren’t even remotely believable. Harry won’t be given adequate security so he’s not going to risk it especially when his brother has already proven that he is willing to use that wedding to attack him.

    The better question is will Willy attend? If he can’t show up for a 45min engagement because of his “sick wife” how the hell is he going to justify attending a wedding??

    • Mary Pester says:

      Harry and Hugh, two gentlemen discussing what will be one of the most important days of hugh and his brides life. Hugh ” I would love for you and Megan to share our special day with us Harry”.
      Harry to Hugh “and we would love to be there Hugh, but, we know what an incandescent manchild my brother is, and we know how twisted the British rags are so it’s best we send you our love and warmest wishes for a truly wonderful day, with nothing to detract from it for you and your beautiful bride. “.
      Hugh to Harry” thanks for that Harry, but, if I had my way you would be here,and I do have to agree with you that the media would probably ruin it for us
      Love to Megan and hope to see you both soon”.

      • Cali says:

        I absolutely agree with your take Mary. Harry doesn’t want to take the focus away from the bride and groom. He is sensitive enough to be aware of that likelihood and kind enough to make his decision known early.

      • Beverley says:

        Mary Pester, you must be a lady bug on Harry’s (or Hugh’s) wall. I dig this take!

        The Rota 🐀🐀🐀 want so bad to make EVERYTHING Meghan’s fault. It’s painfully obvious and downright pitiful. I (almost) have sympathy for their current desperation….except for the fact that they weaponized Meghan’s racial heritage against her. And they still do, while all the time pretending they aren’t racist ass*oles.

        Harry and Meghan have impeccable manners. The Sussexes want the bride and groom to be in the spotlight. One doesn’t attend a wedding to upstage the couple. Or wear “primrose yellow “ to pull focus from the bride.

  27. TN Democrat says:

    Rota 🐀 and Baldimort: You went toooooo far. Harry did the self work and got himself and his family out of the UK and he is never coming back to be Will-not’s/Charles’s scapegoat or Camilla’s target. He has a nice life and is making good money in California. Rota, you are stuck with a lazy, incandescent FK because you colluded with Egg/Charles to make Harry’s life miserable. These stories are boring and repetitive. Is your business model going to be repeats of these stories for the next 40 years?

  28. L4Frimaire says:

    This non-story was put to bed months ago. Now their wedding will get a lot more media coverage so thanks KP, I guess.

  29. T says:

    “Harry knows he can’t attend without Meghan.”

    Didn’t William attend the Jecca wedding without Kate?

  30. Mary Pester says:

    @T, yes but Megan hasn’t slept with hugh, unlike Billy and Jecca!!

  31. Over it says:

    These people should be writing about how many shots Heuvo had and how many people it took to keep him upright during the ceremony.

    • QuiteContrary says:

      Yeah, the story I’ll be interested in is whether William can stand upright during this wedding … because it seems clear that Huevo likes to be marinated in alcohol.

  32. Saucy&Sassy says:

    ‘But there are other reasons – Harry knows he can’t attend without Meghan and Meghan has absolutely insisted she won’t be there.’ Well, this dovetails with the other article where they said Meghan was supported–NOT.

  33. Mary Pester says:

    @BEVERLY, I want to be a lady bug on the wall when Billy attends without bone, then when the media has a field day with the woman WHO IS THERE

  34. ElleE says:

    This wedding has been so heavily covered I didn’t realize it hadn’t even happened yet.

    Seems kind of old for a first marriage, at their age, you’re not expected to invite everyone you went to school and Uni with. And the guest list being public is kind of weird.

  35. Mina_Esq says:

    I’d pay good money for a good excuse to get out of going to yet another wedding. No cap, as the kids say. I’m sure H and M aren’t at home, crying into their Chardonnay.