Prince William attends Hugh Grosvenor’s wedding after estranged brother Harry declined invitation
Prince William was seen arriving at Chester Cathedral for his friend’s wedding on Friday. Samir HusseinWireImage
Britain’s “wedding of the year” had some familiar faces despite Prince Harry declining his invitation.
On Friday, Prince William attended pal Hugh Grosvenor’s lavish nuptials at the Chester Cathedral in northern England, where he served as an usher.
The Prince of Wales, 41, looked dapper in a black tailcoat atop a crisp white shirt as he swiftly entered the cathedral without greeting the crowd gathered outside.
The Prince was seen getting out of a black Mercedes van with other guests, before immediately entering the historic venue.
However, his wife, Kate Middleton, and father, King Charles III, both skipped the exclusive event while undergoing cancer treatment.
Grosvenor, 33, and Olivia Henson’s nuptials is said to be the society wedding of the year. Grosvenor2023/PA
Prince William attended Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster, and Olivia Henson’s wedding on Friday. Getty Images
The Duke of Westminster, who has a net worth of nearly $13 billion, and his now-bride, Olivia Henson, invited upwards of 400 people to the feté.
Following the traditional ceremony, guests traveled 15 minutes to Eaton Hall, Grosvenor’s 11,000-acre county house, for the reception.
The Sunday Times described the event as “the most royal nonroyal wedding of the year, with members of Britain’s oldest and wealthiest aristocratic families heading north.”
The Prince of Wales was an usher at the exclusive event. Getty Images
Grosvenor is the godfather of William’s eldest son. Getty Images
Grosvenor’s godfather is the king himself and, in turn, he is godfather to William and Middleton’s 10-year-old son, Prince George, as well as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s son Archie, 5.
The 33-year-old is one of the few people to have reamined close friends with both brothers amid their ongoing feud.
Kate Middleton did not join her husband at the wedding. Getty Images
Despite inviting Harry to his nuptials, we’re told the Duke of Sussex, 39, declined the invite out of fear his reunion with William would overshadow the big day.
In December, an insider told Page Six that Harry personally called his friend to explain the situation and the pair mutually agreed it would be best if he didn’t come.
Grosvenor also invited Prince Harry; however, the exiled royal declined his invite. Getty Images
Harry didn’t want to make things “awkward” between him and William, who are not on good terms. Getty Images
An insider previously told us that the billionaire completely “understood” Harry and wife Meghan Markle’s decision not to attend the wedding. Getty Images
“Harry actually got a ‘save the date’ card a few months ago but called Hugh and said it would be too awkward if he and Meghan Markle attended, so he made his apologies and Hugh understood,” the source shared.
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At the time, the exiled royal was also unaware of his estranged sister-in-law’s health issues and feared for a reunion between her and his wife.
It would have been the first meeting between Markle and Middleton since Queen Elizabeth’s September 2022 funeral.
Meanwhile, we were previously told the brothers have not spoken in more than a year.