Real reason the Duke of Westminster dropped Harry and Meghan from his wedding guest list: Royals’ childhood friend fears ‘history is repeating itself’ after row over invitation to Camilla overshadowed his sister’s wedding

When the Duke of Westminster made the “incredibly sad” decision to exclude the Duke and Duchess of Sussex from his wedding next summer, he was aware of the royal row that complicated his sister’s ceremony at the same venue.

The Daily Mail understands that the duke, Hugh Grosvenor, was “very aware” of the tensions surrounding the wedding of Lady Tamara Grosvenor and Edward van Cutsem at Chester Cathedral in 2004 and did not want anything similar on his own.

“Hugh knows how sensitive wedding invitations can be,” a family friend told this newspaper.

Camilla Parker Bowles was invited to his sister’s wedding but was told she could not sit with Prince Charles and would have to sit several rows back. She would also have to arrive separately. This was because Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were due to attend the ceremony.

A Buckingham Palace courtier said at the time: ‘It may provoke comment on the day, but Her Majesty will also be present and she is adhering to protocol.

‘A sofa will be reserved for members of the Royal Family present and it would be inappropriate for Mrs Parker Bowles to sit next to Prince Charles as she has no official status.

‘Even if Mrs Parker Bowles were to attend the event with the Prince, in the presence of the Queen, it would mean she would be given rights and status that she simply does not have.’

Prince Harry and Meghan’s exclusion from the Duke of Westminster’s wedding comes amid an increasingly bitter royal rift

The Duke is so close to Harry that he is reportedly godfather to his son, Prince Archie

Prince WilliaM greeted by General Timothy Granville-Chapman (2R), Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster (2L) and John Peace (L) during the official handover to the nation of the newly built Defense and National Rehabilitation Center (DNRC) at the Stanford Hall Estate on June 21, 2018 in Leeds

There had previously been very few official occasions at which both Mrs. Parker Bowles, as she then was, and the Queen were present. These included the Westminster Abbey service to mark the 50th anniversary of the Queen’s coronation, a pop concert in the garden of Buckingham Palace to mark the Queen’s Jubilee, and the Queen Mother’s funeral at Westminster Abbey.

According to Viscountess Bangor, better known as the eminent author Sarah Bradford, Mrs. Parker Bowles was apparently so furious when she read in a newspaper diary column that royal protocol would mean she could not sit next to Charles at the wedding she was the heir to told about the wedding. throne that the status quo was no longer acceptable.

She and Prince Charles withdrew from attending Lady Tamara’s wedding, which, like her brother’s, was described as the society event of the year. It was reported that Charles made the decision because he was dissatisfied with the treatment of Mrs. Parker Bowles.

The wedding was attended by 650 guests, including the Queen, Prince Philip and Princes William and Harry.

Ed Van Cutsem and Lady Tamara Grosvenor leave their wedding service at Chester Cathedral on November 6, 2004

Prince Harry and Meghan’s exclusion from the Duke of Westminster’s wedding comes amid an increasingly bitter royal rift.

Hugh Grosvenor, 32, will marry Olivia Henson, 30, at Chester Cathedral on June 7. The King, Queen, Prince and Princess of Wales and Prince George, the Duke’s godson, are invited.

The Duke is so close to Harry that he is reportedly godfather to his son, Prince Archie. The duke, who has an estimated fortune of £10 billion, is the king’s godson and had an official role at the coronation in May.

It is understood he wanted to invite the Sussexes, but he is aware that their appearance could dominate the day and cause tension for Charles, Camilla, William and Catherine.

A friend of William and Harry told the Sunday Times: ‘It’s incredibly sad that it has come to this. Hugh is one of the few close friends of William and Harry who has maintained strong ties and lines of communication with both.”

A spokesman for the Duke of Westminster declined to comment.