Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Left Off Guest List for Longtime Friend's Wedding Over Royal Rift: Report

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will not be at the June nuptials of Prince Harry and Prince William’s close friend the Duke of Westminster

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will not be heading to the U.K. in June for the society wedding of the year.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have reportedly been left off the guest list for the nuptials of Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster and Olivia Henson, 32 — despite Grosvenor being close to both Harry, 39, and his estranged brother Prince William, 41. The wedding is set to take place on June 7, at Chester Cathedral, in northwest England.

A spokesperson for Grosvenor — who is one of Britain’s richest men — tells PEOPLE, “We are not in a position to comment on the guest list.”

According to the Sunday Times, Kate Middleton and William, as well as King Charles and Queen Camilla will be at the service, but Grosvenor, 30, — who is a godparent to William and Kate’s son Prince George, 10 — has reluctantly made the decision not to invite the Duke and Duchess of Sussex because he reportedly wants to avoid a family clash amid the rift between the royal brothers.

Grosvenor’s ties to the royal family are deep-seated. He is a godson of Charles, 75, and his mother is a godmother to Prince William. He is also one of Prince Archie’s godparents, the Sunday Times reports.  

In 2004, William and Harry were ushers at the wedding of Grosvenor's sister, Lady Tamara Grosvenor, to Edward van Cutsem, a British banker.

Related: Prince Harry and Prince William's Relationship Is Beyond Repair: 'There's No Going Back' (Exclusive)

An unnamed friend of both princes was quoted in The Sunday Times this weekend as saying, “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 realizes 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.”

Grosvenor became the Duke of Westminster following the death of his father Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor in 2016. Hugh succeeded him to become the seventh Duke of Westminster. At the time of his death, the late Duke had an estimated net worth of $12.15 billion, making him the third-richest British citizen at the time, according to the Sunday Times Rich List 2016. Gerald also owned several acres of property near Buckingham Palace.

News of the upcoming wedding came in April after Grosvenor proposed to his girlfriend of two years, Olivia Henson, at his family's estate at Eaton Hall in northern England's Cheshire County.

"Members of both their families are absolutely delighted with the news," a press release announcing the engagement said at the time.

Hugh is chair of the Grosvenor Group, an investment and real estate group that manages rural estates and supports charitable initiatives, as well as being chair of the Westminster Foundation, which works closely with groups that support families and schools within their local communities and provides grants for youth outreach programs for at-risk children.

During the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, his philanthropic efforts made headlines when, through his foundation, he made $15 million available to NHS Charities Together.

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