Harry and Meghan not invited to Archie's godfather's wedding but Will and Kate going amid racism row

2 December 2023, 23:10 | Updated: 3 December 2023, 09:34

Harry and Meghan have not been invited to a close friend's wedding as high society picks sides in the royal race row.
Harry and Meghan have not been invited to a close friend's wedding as high society picks sides in the royal race row. Picture: Alamy

By Chay Quinn

Harry and Meghan have not been invited to a close friend's wedding as high society picks sides in the royal race row.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster, is said to be Prince Archie's godfather but has not invited the Sussexes to his wedding - instead opting to ask the Prince and Princess of Wales instead.

Hugh and Olivia Henson are set to get married at Chester Cathedral on June 7 in the wedding of the year where William is reportedly in the running for best man.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have not broken their silence since the controversy of Omid Scobie's book Endgame.

Harry and Meghan have reportedly been snubbed by close friend Hugh Grovesnor
Harry and Meghan have reportedly been snubbed by close friend Hugh Grovesnor. Picture: Getty
The snub comes after the release of Omid Scobie's latest bombshell book Endgame
The snub comes after the release of Omid Scobie's latest bombshell book Endgame. Picture: Getty
The Waleses will reportedly attend the Duke's wedding instead
The Waleses will reportedly attend the Duke's wedding instead. Picture: Getty

The title, which contains a raft of serious claims against the monarchy, was printed in the Netherlands with two royals identified as those who asked Meghan about her son Archie's skin colour.

The copies were recalled and pulped as Mr Scobie blamed a translation error. The royal author, often said to be close to the Sussexes, has denied Meghan was behind the leaks and claimed the two royals were identified in a letter she sent to the King.

Read more: Palace insiders accuse Harry and Meghan after names of royals 'who asked about Archie's skin colour' leaked

Read more: Kate fears Christmas showdown if Harry and Meghan 'gatecrash' family celebrations

King Charles III
King Charles III. Picture: Alamy

But their identification in the book risks damaging the monarchy. Sources close to the royals said: "For the couple that talked about ‘death by a thousand no comments’, the silence at this point is deafening," the Telegraph reported.

Others close to the Sussexes pointed out that they have never themselves called any royals themselves racist.

It came as some publicly defended the royals amid the accusations. Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the alleged comments were "not remotely racist".

Sir Trevor Phillips, the former head of the Commission for Racial Equality, called it a "nonsense story".

King Charles will consult his advisers next week
King Charles will consult his advisers next week. Picture: Alamy

But the revelations could end any chance of Harry mending relations with the King - who is speaking to his top advisers next week to discuss the next steps.

"This could not have come at a worse moment in Charles's career," royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told The Sun as the King opened the Cop28 climate talks with a speech in Dubai.

"Charles and Harry's relationship was at an all-time low before but this may have fractured it beyond all repair.

"It could spell the end game for them."

That is despite Harry having called the King to wish him a happy birthday and sent him a video of Archie, aged four, and Lilibet, two.

They were reportedly due to chat again over the phone.

King Charles will meet with senior advisers next week, after returning from Cop28.

The Mail reported they are "greatly encouraged" by the public's reaction to Mr Scobie's claims, detecting sympathy to the Palace. They are said to be "considering all options".

Mr Scobie has said an investigation into how the names were printed is under way, but refused to apologise, saying he was unsure what happened.

The rift with Harry and Charles may never now be repaired, it's been claimed
The rift with Harry and Charles may never now be repaired, it's been claimed. Picture: Alamy

"I am as frustrated as everyone else," he said after the furore over the Dutch language copies erupted.

"The book I wrote, the book I edited, the book I signed off on, did not have names in it."

Sources close to the Sussexes say Meghan did not leak the names of the two royals to Scobie and "never intended them to be publicly identified".

The Palace is also investigating to ensure it could not have leaked from within, but sources have said the letter is locked away and only a "tiny handful" of people ever saw it.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

WASPI women demonstrating on Budget Day outside the Houses of Parliament about the lack of compensation n, Westminister, London, UK, October 30 2024.

Waspi women threaten to sue Government over pension compensation package worth £10.5 billion

Torrential rain falls above the taxi rank at Manchester Victoria Station, Manchester, England, UK. 20th February 2025.

'Danger to life' amber weather warning issued as heavy rain and deep floods set to hit UK

Monumental Pharaoh Thutmose II statues in Karnak Temple.

British archaeologist may have found second tomb of mysterious pharaoh just days after major discovery

French forensic police work on the site of a knife attack where a man is suspected of killing one person and seriously wounding two police officers in Mulhouse, eastern France on February 22, 2025.

Four arrested after one killed and several police officers injured in 'terror attack' in France

Long Row, Nottingham.

16-year-old boy arrested after teenager, 17, stabbed in front of shoppers in Nottingham Primark

Pope is 'still in critical condition'

Pope 'still in critical condition' and participated in Holy Mass with carers amid 'complex clinical picture'

Peter Reynolds, 79 and his wife Barbie, 75 have been arrested by the Taliban.

Retired British couple who run education programmes for mothers arrested by Taliban in Afghanistan

Palestinian children and journalists disperse as Israeli tanks enter the Jenin camp for Palestinian refugees in the occupied West Bank, on February 23, 2025.

Israel deploys tanks to Occupied West Bank for first time in two decades as Palestinians 'won't be allowed' to return

The leader of Germany's Conservative party has claimed victory in federal elections, as the far-right AfD party is on track to double their share of votes since 2021.

Conservative leader claims victory in German elections as far-right AfD come second

Jenny Hall

Body found in search for missing 23-year-old runner Jenny Hall

Long Row, Nottingham.

Boy, 17, stabbed in Nottingham Primark

Former defence secretary Penny Mordaunt told LBC that we must invest more in defence to secure peace in Ukraine.

'We have got to wake up' and spend more on defence, says ex-defence secretary Penny Mordaunt

Zelenskyy willing to step down as Ukraine's President 'immediately' if it 'brings peace or Nato membership'

Zelenskyy willing to step down as Ukraine's president 'immediately' if it 'brings peace or Nato membership'

UK Weather, London - 9 February 2020. Storm Ciara brings gale force winds and heavy rain to the London’s West End Theatreland district. Credit: Thamesfleet/Alamy Live News

Fresh amber alert as Met Office issues 'danger to life' warning with UK facing heavy rain and 70mph winds

Homeless asylum seeker starved to death while 'dangling from a London skylight for six days'

Homeless asylum seeker starved to death while 'dangling from skylight for six days'

Destruction in Kryvyi Rih, via The State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Dnipropetrovsk

Russia launches 'aerial terror' on Ukraine, with the biggest drone attack of the war so far