Prince William was undoubtedly the central figure at the wedding of Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster, and Olivia Henson on June 7th at Chester Cathedral. The Duke has a long-standing friendship with both William and Prince Harry, but while William served as an usher at the nuptials, Harry was absent.

It is understood that the Duke of Sussex was invited but chose to decline, reaching a "civilised understanding" with the groom to stay away, allowing William to take on his role. Royal biographer Ingrid Seward explained that it was always going to be Harry who would have to decline the invitation rather than his older brother.

Seward highlighted the close ties between the Grosvenor family and the Royal Family, noting that Princess Diana, William and Harry's mother, was close friends with Hugh Grosvenor's mother, Natalia. Natalia, known as "Tally," is Prince William's godmother, and Diana was godmother to Natalia's daughter, Edwina. Furthermore, Hugh is one of King Charles' many godsons and is also a godfather to Prince George.

Seward emphasized that there was never any doubt about which brother would take center stage at the wedding. Harry, recognizing the potential awkwardness of the situation, decided to step down, having discussed the matter with Hugh.

Seward also addressed the possibility of Meghan's reluctance to attend such a high-profile society wedding, considering the negative sentiment towards her within those circles. She suggested that Meghan's presence could have been a distraction from the bride and groom, potentially leading to unwanted attention and embarrassment.

The rift between Harry and William continues to be evident, as demonstrated by their inability to even attend the same social event together. Seward noted that Harry sent a message expressing his love and support for the couple, highlighting the sadness of their strained relationship.

She explained that William's role as an usher would have required him to guide Harry, as a member of the Royal Family, to a designated seat in the church. In the past, this would have provided an opportunity for lighthearted banter between the brothers, but in the current climate, it would have generated negative headlines. Seward concluded that a reconciliation between the brothers seems unlikely in the near future.