The bride and groom carefully curated their guest list for their upcoming wedding, deliberately excluding the ever-disruptive Meghan Markle.
Many speculate that Meghan might try to upstage the bride, which could be a source of concern. Consequently, Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, will not attend the wedding of his close friend, the Duke of Westminster, next month, even though the groom is the godfather of his son, Archie.
Hugh Grosvenor, aged 33, is set to marry 31-year-old Olivia Henson at the stately Chester Cathedral on June 7th. As one of Britain's wealthiest individuals, Grosvenor will have the honor of welcoming the Prince of Wales as part of the groom's party. However, recent reports indicate that Prince Harry will be conspicuously absent from the 400-strong guest list. This decision is likely a strategic move to prevent any royal tensions from overshadowing the joyous occasion.
Grosvenor, who is the godfather to Harry's firstborn child, Archie, recently celebrated Archie’s fifth birthday. Harry’s absence from the festivities is particularly notable. Additionally, the king, who is Grosvenor's own godfather, will not attend the wedding as he continues treatment for cancer. In fact, the day before the wedding, the king will be in France with the queen and Prince William, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Landings in Normandy. The Princess of Wales is also not expected to attend, as she too is undergoing cancer treatment following her health announcement in March.
The groom-to-be, affectionately known as Hugh to his inner circle, has an inherited fortune exceeding £10 billion. This staggering wealth includes a sprawling property portfolio of 140,000 acres across Oxfordshire, Cheshire, Lancashire, and Scotland, plus another 300 acres in the prestigious neighborhoods of Mayfair and Belgravia. Grosvenor inherited this vast empire from his late father, the previous Duke, who passed away from a heart attack in 2016 at the age of 64.
Hugh and Olivia Henson were introduced by mutual friends in 2021, and they have insisted on a strictly no-gifts policy for their wedding guests. Sustainability will be a central theme of this grand affair, with locally sourced food, flowers, and products. After the celebrations conclude, the flowers will be donated to local charities and organizations.
Earlier this month, Harry returned to the UK to mark the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games. However, he did not meet with his father due to reported scheduling conflicts. Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, recently visited Nigeria for a three-day tour as part of further Invictus events.
