Prince William could take on role next summer in 'awkward' snub to Harry

02 December 2023 , 21:05

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Prince William with Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster (second left) (Image: Getty Images)

Prince William could take on a major role next summer which would see him brush shoulders with one of Britain's richest men, it has been reported.

The Prince of Wales is looking like a shoo-in for the best man position at the upcoming wedding of Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster. The childhood friend of Prince Harry is set to hold his wedding next summer, though it is unlikely the Duke of Sussex will return to the UK for it. He and Meghan Markle are set to miss the event according to reports, with Grosvenor, 32, instead marrying Olivia Henson, 30, at Chester Cathedral with Prince William by his side as best man. The wedding is set to take place on June 7.

Duke of Westminster Hugh Grosvenor may appoint Prince William as his best man (PA)

Prince Harry reportedly will not be at his friend's wedding next summer (Getty Images)

Prince George, the eldest son of Prince William and Grosvenor's godson, is also expected to attend the event. Grosvenor's potential request for the Prince of Wales to be his best man may come as a blow to Prince Harry, with the Duke of Westminster serving as the godfather to the Duke of Sussex's eldest, Prince Archie. It is believed he is the only friend of William and Harry to be chosen as a godparent by both.

A friend of William and Harry’s told the Times: "It’s incredibly sad it has come to this. Hugh is one of very few close friends of William and Harry’s who has maintained strong bonds and a line of communication with both. He wishes they could put their heads together and patch things up, but realises 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."

It is believed the Sussex duo were wanting to attend the wedding and Grosvenor had initially planned on inviting the couple. But a decision against the invitation comes as the soon-to-be-married couple hope to avoid awkwardness and stories of the Sussex duo overshadowing their big day. A spokesperson for Grosvenor also told the paper: "We are not in a position to comment on the guest list."

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Reports of the rift between the Sussexes and the rest of the royal family have only deepened this week. It comes as the Dutch translation of Omid Scobie's latest book – Endgame – was removed from shelves just after it was published in the Netherlands - and hit the headlines after an apparent error appeared to name King Charles and the Princess of Wales as the two royals who voiced "concerns" over the skin tone of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's son Archie.

Charles and Kate were named in the Dutch version of Mr Scobie's book - and while confirming an investigation had begun at the publishers responsible for the translation, he denied including the identities of the two senior royals in his manuscript. A statement said: "Xander Uitgevers is temporarily withdrawing the book Eindstrijd by Omid Scobie from sale. An error occurred in the Dutch translation and is currently being rectified."

When the Sussexes made their explosive allegations on Oprah in 2021, in an interview broadcast around the world, they set in train a public debate about who in the royal family might harbour such racially charged views. In a multicultural modern Britain such allegations against the monarchy generated debate on a matter of such public importance with Scobie's new book claiming to add to that public debate.

Speaking of his frustration with the scandal that has sent shockwaves through the monarchy, Mr Scobie laid the blame squarely on the publisher in the Netherlands, saying: "I never submitted a book that had those names in it." But in a twist, the Dutch translator who worked on the book insisted the titles of the King and Princess of Wales were in the manuscript she was sent. Saskia Peeters claimed she did not add the names to the Dutch version of the book.

The Royal Family has not commented on the allegations publicly but we reported that The Firm was set to take legal advice. Palace aides were said to be still scrambling for information as to how excerpts in the Dutch version could have appeared as an "error" from a translated text.

The Mirror contacted the Duke of Westminster's office for a comment.

Ewan Gleadow