Royal Rift Widens As Harry & Meghan Left Out Of Their Son’s Godfather's Wedding

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle and Prince Harry reportedly won't attend the June wedding of Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster, and Olivia Henson.

Despite Grosvenor's close ties to the royals, including being a godson of King Charles III and Prince Archie's godparent, he chose to exclude the Sussexes to avoid family tensions. The decision has sparked speculation on the state of their friendship.

Harry’s relationship with his brother Prince William has also become more strained after new bombshell claims in writer Omid Scobie's book.

According to reports, Meghan and Harry were allegedly excluded from the guest list of the anticipated June wedding of the Duke of Westminster and Olivia Henson. The Sunday Times reports that Kate Middleton, Prince William, King Charles, and Queen Camilla are expected at the upcoming event.

Per the outlet, Grosvenor shares strong ties with the royal family, being a godson of Charles, with his mother being a godmother to Prince William. Additionally, he is one of Prince Archie’s godparents. However, he has opted not to invite the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to avoid potential family tensions amid the royal brothers' rift.

The notable absentee royals have stirred speculation, and a spokesperson for Grosvenor told People that they were “not in a position to comment on the guest list.”

Beyond being a godson to the monarch, Grosvenor shares a close friendship with both Harry and William. He is not only a godparent to Prince George and Prince Archie but also has historical ties to the royal family, with William and Harry serving as ushers at his sister Lady Tamara Grosvenor's 2004 wedding to Edward van Cutsem.

Speaking to the outlet, a friend of the princes expressed sadness over the situation, stating: “It’s incredibly sad it has come to this. Hugh is one of the very few close friends of William and Harry’s who has maintained strong bonds and a line of communication with both.”

The insider added, “He wishes they could put their heads together and patch things up, but realizes 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.”

The news of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex being excluded from the guest list comes amid rising tensions between Harry and William.

Recent reports highlight a potentially strained relationship, particularly after King Charles and Kate were implicated in making comments about Archie's skin color in Omid Scobie's book, "Endgame."

The Sussexes, yet to address the book publicly, face potential repercussions as William is reportedly seeking action following Kate's association with the concerns about Archie's skin color.

A scheduled meeting between Charles and William is anticipated to address this sensitive topic and its potential consequences.

However, amid the controversy following claims made in Scobie's book, the Royal Family reportedly maintains a semblance of normalcy as the decision on the next course of action rests with Charles, who is approaching the matter with careful consideration and will consult advisers.

While an apology is anticipated, a Palace source emphasized the seriousness of being labeled, stating: “Being falsely branded a racist in print is a serious allegation that must be treated seriously. All options are still on the table.”

Sources close to Meghan, who reportedly shared names of alleged racist royals with Charles privately, emphasized that she “never intended for them to be publicly identified.”

Per The Telegraph, Some insiders are reportedly urging the couple to address the issue publicly, noting, “For the couple that talked about 'death by a thousand no comments,' the silence at this point is deafening.” Another insider added that the Sussexes’ silence was “interesting” given their past concerns about inadequate support against negative press.