Prince Harry's 'complicated' relationship with royals to blame for pal's wedding snub

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are believed to have declined an invite to Hugh Grosvenor's wedding, with one expert suggesting it's due to their relationship with the Royal Family

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are believed to have declined an invitation to their pal's wedding, with one expert suggesting it's due to Harry's "complicated" relationship with the Royal Family.

There had been reports that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were excluded from the invite list for the wedding of the Duke of Westminster and Olivia Henson at Chester Cathedral in June. However, a source then claimed the couple were actually sent a "Save the Date" card from Harry's close pal.

They claimed he declined the invitation over fears of an "awkward" reunion with The Firm. Relationship expert Louella Alderson has suggested that "healing has not yet taken place" between Harry and his family, which could be the reason for the wedding day snub.

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King Charles, Queen Camilla and the Prince and Princess of Wales will be in attendance at the wedding. Speaking exclusively to The Mirror, Louella said: "If Harry declined an invite due to potential awkwardness with the Royal Family, then his friend should understand and respect his decision.

"It's important for Harry to maintain his boundaries in an empathetic manner. If he cares about the friendship, he should communicate openly with his friend, explaining the reasons behind his decision."

The relationship expert said Harry's situation with his family is "incredibly unique and complicated." She added: "It's understandable that he may not feel comfortable attending certain events with them if they aren’t on speaking terms."

Louella suggested the Duke of Westminster and his future wife "may even appreciate Harry choosing not to come and potentially causing a huge media frenzy". She said that would risk upstaging the wedding day and detracting from the happy couple. She insisted: "Their wedding day should be about them, not about any potential drama or tension between Harry and the Royal Family."

The expert also told us she finds it "unsurprising" that there have been reports of Meghan and Harry feeling "awkward" over the idea of reuniting with the royals at the wedding. She added: "If Harry declined an invite to the wedding to avoid potential awkwardness or conflict with the Royal Family, it could indicate that their relationship is still strained and healing has not yet taken place.

"It may also signify that Harry is prioritising his own well-being and boundaries, choosing to avoid any potentially uncomfortable or negative situations." However, she also suggested the Sussexes may be hoping to avoid criticism from people in the UK if they returned.

Louella concluded: "A wedding, which is a day of celebration, love and joy, doesn’t feel like the right time for Harry and the Royal Family to come face-to-face. It's probably better for everyone involved, including the bride and groom, for Harry to not attend and avoid any potential drama or media frenzy."

Louella Alderson is a relationship expert and co-founder of the So Syncd dating app.

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