In a much-anticipated gathering, Prince Harry and Prince William are reportedly set to attend the Duke of Westminster's wedding in June, marking a rare reunion amid ongoing royal family tensions and after King Charles and Princess Kate cancer announcements.
Hugh Grosvenor will marry his long-term partner, Olivia Henson, in June at Chester Cathedral. A GB News report indicated that the duke had extended invitations to some senior working royals, including Prince Harry and Prince William.
According to The Daily Mail, Prince William and Princess Kate, the Prince and Princess of Wales, are expected to attend the special ceremony, and Prince Harry has also been sent a "save the date."
A PageSix insider claimed Prince Harry had been sent a "save the date" for the wedding. However, the Duke of Sussex allegedly called Grosvenor and said it would be "too awkward" for him and Meghan to attend.
"Harry had been sent a 'save the date' for the wedding, but the prince called Grosvenor and said it would be 'too awkward' for him and Meghan to attend," the informant stated. Business Times has approached Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and Hugh Grosvenor for comments.
Meanwhile, Prince George is also expected to play an essential role in the wedding, as Grosvenor is the future King's godfather. Other expected visitors include Prince Edward and his wife Katharine, the Duke and Duchess of Kent; Prince Richard and Birgitte, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester; and Princess Alexandra.
Princess Lilibet, Prince Harry's daughter, will celebrate her birthday on the same day as the wedding. If the Duke of Sussex attends the ceremony, it will be the first time the two brothers have met since their father, King Charles, was crowned in May 2023.
The relationship between Prince Harry and Prince William has been strained since the Duke of Sussex published his memoir, "Spare," in which he criticized his brother. During their Oprah interview and Netflix series, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle also made allegations against the Royal Family.
To recall, in his highly anticipated autobiography, Prince Harry described what he claims was a physical attack by his brother, Prince William, as their relationship deteriorated following the younger prince's marriage to actor Meghan Markle. In a 2019 confrontation at his London home, Prince Harry claimed Prince William called Meghan "difficult," "rude," and "abrasive," which he describes as a "parrot[ing] of the press narrative" about his American wife.
According to Prince Harry, the confrontation escalated to the point where Prince William grabbed him by the collar, ripped his necklace, and knocked him to the floor. The extraordinary scene, which Prince Harry claims, resulted in visible injury to his back, The Guardian reported.
Following Princess Kate's cancer announcement, it was reported that Prince Harry had "made personal contact" with Prince William. Royal Reporter Sarah Louise-Robertson said the health update could mark a turning point for the two brothers.
"Harry reached out to his brother last night. There has been some text messages, some exchanges, and the fact that has happened shows that there could now be maybe a thawing and a bit of an olive branch between the two families," Sarah said.
"And I think, wouldn't it be lovely if Harry could just make that apology? This is the time where you have to put all that bad blood behind you and you come together as a family. Catherine's diagnosis has put everything into perspective, the silly things that they were feuding about, it seems so futile," the royal reporter went on.
Prince Harry and Meghan issued a statement following Princess Kate's video message, wishing her "health and healing." The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were last seen with Princess Kate and Prince William, 41, in September 2022, during a surprise walkabout in Windsor following Queen Elizabeth's death.
Queen Elizabeth died at 96 in 2022, while Prince Harry and Meghan were in Europe for a series of charity events. The couple then extended their trip from California, where they have lived with their children, Prince Archie, 4, and Princess Lilibet, 2, since retiring from royal duties in 2020, to attend the late Queen's funeral services.
