It was a packed day of royal engagements that saved the King from assembly Prince Harry throughout his whistle-stop go to to the UK.
Now I can reveal that one of many objects of enterprise which saved the monarch from seeing his son was rewarding the senior peer who masterminded each his Coronation and his mom’s funeral.
Eyebrows had been raised when the Duke of Norfolk was apparently neglected within the New Yr Honours, given his pivotal function in making each events such successes.
However on Might 7, at a non-public assembly in Buckingham Palace, the King introduced him with a silver gilt Coronation Cup, persevering with a 300-year custom.
The 18th Duke tells me the present has taken satisfaction of place on the mantelpiece in his medieval household house, Arundel Fortress in West Sussex.
Eyebrows had been raised when the Duke of Norfolk (pictured) was apparently neglected within the New Yr Honours
The presentation was one in every of a number of conferences Charles had on the day Harry landed in London
‘After the Coronation, the King wrote an exquisite letter saying thanks, including {that a} present could be on its approach,’ the Duke, 67, revealed. ‘I’m completely delighted with the Coronation Cup.’
Monarchs have gifted gilded cups to their Earls Marshal – holders of the hereditary workplace accountable for main ceremonial state events – since George II’s Coronation in 1727, overseen by the eighth Duke of Norfolk.Â
George III, George IV, William IV, George V, George VI and Elizabeth II continued the custom.
However all seven cups had been stolen in 2021, when a burglar broke into Arundel Fortress with a hammer and grabbed £1 million value of antiques. Nobody has ever been convicted and police consider it unlikely the objects will ever be discovered.
The presentation was one in every of a number of conferences Charles had on the day Harry landed in London.Â
The following day, whereas his son was at St Paul’s Cathedral, the King held a backyard social gathering and a number of other conferences together with with the Prime Minister and, reportedly, David Beckham.
On Might 7, at a non-public assembly in Buckingham Palace, the King introduced the Duke of Norfolk with a silver gilt Coronation Cup
Prince William is about to be an usher on the Duke of Westminster’s ‘society wedding ceremony of the 12 months’ – however King Charles will not attend amid rumours of stress over previous Queen Camilla ‘snub’… and Harry is not even invited
By Charlotte Griffiths and Nathan Kay and Cameron Roy
Prince William is about to be an usher at his buddy the Duke of Westminster’s wedding ceremony however King Charles will not attend amid rumours of stress over a previous Queen Camilla ‘snub’.
Prince Harry can also be anticipated to overlook the occasion over worries his attendance could trigger household awkwardness which might overshadow his buddy Hugh Grosvenor, and his bride-to-be, Olivia Henson’s massive day on June 7.Â
The King and Queen will miss the ‘society wedding ceremony of the 12 months’, over claims they haven’t forgotten about what occurred on the 2004 wedding ceremony of Hugh’s sister.Â
They turned down their invites on the time to Girl Tamara Grosvenor and Edward van Cutsem’s wedding ceremony, which was held on the identical venue because the duke’s upcoming wedding ceremony: Chester Cathedral.
Camilla Parker Bowles, as she was then, had been advised that she wouldn’t be allowed to take a seat with Prince Charles and would as a substitute be seated a number of rows again and be made to reach individually.Â
This was due to royal protocol since Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip attended the ceremony, together with Princes William and Harry.
Prince William is about to be an usher on the society wedding ceremony of the 12 months when his shut buddy the Duke of Westminster Hugh Grosvenor will get married to Olivia Henson subsequent month. Pictured: The couple’s official photograph launched to mark their engagement
Prince William will likely be among the many groom’s social gathering, however the Princess of Wales, who’s receiving most cancers therapy, is just not anticipated to attend
Prince Harry is just not on the visitor record for his buddy’s marriage to ‘keep away from any royal tensions overshadowing the massive day’. Neither he nor his spouse Meghan Markle will attend, regardless of Grosvenor being so near Harry that he’s a godfather to the couple’s five-year-old son Prince Archie
The marriage of Girl Tamara Grosvenor, and Edward van Cutsem. The King and Queen selected to show down their invites to the 2004 wedding ceremony
Tensions had been heightened by reviews that Emilie van Cutsem, the groom’s mom, and Camilla had fallen out after every is alleged to have criticised the behaviour of the opposite’s youngsters.
Charles in the end excused himself from the occasion with simply days to go, saying he needed to go to Warminster barracks to fulfill the households of troopers serving in Iraq. Camilla was described as ‘in any other case engaged’.
In line with royal creator Sarah Bradford, Camilla was so infuriated that she advised Charles the established order was now not acceptable. Their very own engagement was introduced three months later.
The King, who’s Grosvenor’s godfather, remains to be present process most cancers therapy and will likely be travelling to France the day earlier than the ceremony subsequent month with the Queen and Prince William to commemorate the eightieth anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy.Â
One other side of the upcoming wedding ceremony that has been the speak of the city for months is why Prince Harry could have turned down an invite from his previous buddy.
Now associates of the Royal Household assume they’ve solved the thriller, claiming that Prince Harry refused to attend when he found his brother William had been given a distinguished function.
Tonight the Sunday Instances reported that the Prince of Wales will likely be an usher on the duke’s wedding ceremony to Olivia Henson.
The Mail on Sunday understands that his son Prince George is about have a distinguished function too, as he’s the duke’s godson. The attendance of King Charles, who’s the duke’s godfather, is but to be formally confirmed or denied.
King Charles and Queen Camilla should not anticipated to attend the marriage
Chester Cathedral the place the duke’s wedding ceremony is about to happen subsequent month
After the marriage service at Chester Cathedral, visitors will then take pleasure in a grand reception at close by Eaton Corridor (pictured)
Prince Harry and Prince William on the wedding ceremony of Edward van Cutsem and their buddy’s sister Girl Tamara Grosvenor at Chester Cathedral in 2004Â
Harry and Meghan have already been excluded from subsequent month’s wedding ceremony. Hugh is believed to have felt the Sussexes’ look might trigger tensions with the Royal Household
The Prince and Princess of Wales and their elder son, Prince George, who’s Hugh’s godson, are invited to the marriage. Nonetheless, Catherine is just not anticipated to attend as a result of she is present process most cancers therapy
Olivia and Hugh introduced their engagement on April 23, 2023, after two years of courting. Pictured vising charities in Chester earlier this month
The late Queen is pictured with the late Duke of Westminster Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor, who died all of the sudden in 2016
Pictured: Harry and Meghan with Archie in 2019
The releationship between Harry and William is known to be underneath pressure lately. Pictured: The brothers in 2021 at an unveiling of a statue of their mom, Princess Diana
Prince William, pictured with Grosvenor in 2004, was at one level within the working to be the Duke’s greatest man
Generally known as ‘Huey’ to associates, the 33-year-old duke is one in every of only a few to stay shut associates with each William and Harry.
Buddies have prompt the Prince of Wales was first requested in December to be an usher on the wedding ceremony at Chester Cathedral subsequent month. At one stage, he was even mentioned to have been earmarked as a greatest man.
Harry was mentioned to have been ‘put out’ by the information as a result of he had at all times regarded himself as being nearer to the duke – who can also be godfather to the Sussexes’ first-born, Prince Archie.
Final night time, a well-informed supply advised The Mail on Sunday: ‘William was requested to have a distinguished function within the wedding ceremony and that is what triggered Harry to say no an invite. Apparently he [Harry] was put out by the request when he thought it ought to have been him.’
Referencing the dearth of public particulars in regards to the event, the supply added: ‘Each the Palace and Hugh’s folks determined to carry expensive the operational a part of the marriage as soon as the leak about Harry not attending made the papers.’
Final 12 months, it was claimed that Prince Harry had been ‘snubbed’ from the marriage, however a supply near the Sussexes was at pains to elucidate to US publication Web page Six that each Meghan and Harry had in actual fact obtained invites, however had collectively determined to say no.
Neither Harry nor his spouse Meghan Markle will attend the marriage, which is predicted to have 400 visitors, regardless of Grosvenor being so near Harry that he’s a godfather to the couple’s five-year-old son Prince Archie.Â
Prince William will likely be among the many groom’s social gathering, however the Princess of Wales, who’s receiving most cancers therapy, is just not anticipated to attend.
Grosvenor, often called ‘Hughie’ to his associates, and Henson, had been launched by mutual associates in 2021.
The couple have insisted on a ‘strictly no-gifts coverage’ for his or her visitors, in keeping with The Sunday Times.
The Duke inherited his £9.3billion fortune when his father Gerald Grosvenor suffered a sudden coronary heart assault whereas out on a rustic stroll and died aged 64 in 2016.Â
Prince William (R) is greeted by Normal Timothy Granville-Chapman (2R), Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster (2L) and John Peace (L) as he arrives to attend the official handover of the newly constructed Defence and Nationwide Rehabilitation Centre
An in depth buddy of the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Westminster is godfather to his eldest son Prince George (Grosvenor pictured in 2018 second from left with then PM Theresa Might, far left, Bahrain’s Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, second from proper, and Prince William, far proper)
As soon as dubbed Britain’s most eligible bachelor, Hugh was educated at £6,000-a-term day faculty Ellesmere Faculty in ShropshireÂ
The Duke of Westminster and his fiancée had a busy begin to the month as they carried out a really regal string of engagements in Chester, the place they’re resulting from trade vows this summer time
Photos from earlier this month confirmed the couple (left) being mirror pictures of William and Kate (pictured proper in 2022), who’re crowd-favourites in the case of public engagementsÂ
He inherited 300 acres throughout the prosperous London areas of Mayfair and Belgravia, in addition to estates in Oxford, Scotland and properties across the globe. This consists of his present residence at Eaton Corridor, the ten,872-acre household property.
After the marriage service at Chester Cathedral, visitors will then take pleasure in a grand reception at close by Eaton Corridor.Â
The next day they’ll host a second, smaller reception at Eaton Corridor for shut household and associates, however additional particulars of each receptions are being saved secret. Â
Sustainability will likely be a key function of the marriage, with all meals, flowers and merchandise used for the marriage domestically sourced the place doable.
The next day they’ll host a second, smaller reception at Eaton Corridor for shut household and associates, however additional particulars of each receptions are being saved secret. Â
The town of Chester can also be bracing itself for the celebrations, with 1000’s of individuals anticipated to line the streets.Â
Some outlets, eating places and cafés close to the cathedral will likely be closed on the day for entry and safety.Â
A spokesman for Kensington Palace mentioned the Prince of Wales is attending the marriage in a non-public capability, and mentioned it doesn’t touch upon occasions throughout his non-public time.
A consultant for Prince Harry was additionally contacted for remark.Â
Earlier this month, the engaged couple visited a number of native charities in Chester helped by the Westminster Basis – showcasing their charisma and drawing comparisons from the Prince and Princess of Wales.
Grosvenor, who is understood to be publicity-shy and has at all times maintained a low profile regardless of his excessive wealth, is understood to be ‘extremely excited’ however ‘nervous’ in regards to the wedding ceremony.
Olivia and Hugh introduced their engagement on April 23, 2023, after two years of courting.Â
Hugh Grosvenor attends the marriage of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle with Charlie van Straubenzee at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Fortress on Might 19, 2018
A life-long buddy for every of the brothers, Hugh Grosvenor is considered the one pal each selected to mentor their youngsters. Pictured: On the wedding ceremony of Harry’s faculty buddy Charlie van Straubenzee and Daisy Jenks in 2018
Grosvenor, who is believed to personal extra land than the King, has an estimated internet value of £9.42 billion and has an extended historical past with the royal household – together with his late father Gerald appearing as King Charles’ personal godfather. Pictured: Together with his mom in 2018
Raised at Eaton Corridor, Cheshire, Hugh Grosvenor was privately educated at Ellesmere Faculty earlier than acquiring a BSc in Countryside Administration from Newcastle College.
After his commencement, Grosvenor labored in property administration on the meals and agriculture firm Wheatsheaf Group, an funding enterprise primarily based within the Eaton property and owned by the Grosvenor Group.
Afterwards, he held an account supervisor place at sustainability firm bio-bean, which turns coffee-related waste into bioproducts equivalent to biofuels and logs.Â
The long run Duchess of Westminster additionally comes from a rich background. Olivia descends from the Hoare banking household in addition to the Marquesses of Bristol and the Dukes of Rutland, in keeping with the Telegraph.
The outlet additionally says her uncle is the Grand Grasp of Scottish freemasons and her father is stockbroker Rupert Henson.
Olivia reportedly additionally has a 29-year-old brother who works in asset administration and a 26-year-old sister who’s in a model relationships function.
She can also be mentioned to talk Spanish and Italian after finishing a Hispanic Research and Italian diploma at Trinity Faculty in Dublin.
Very similar to the Princess of Wales, Olivia is known to have attended the elite Marlborough Faculty, and earlier than that was on the equally revered Dragon College in Oxford together with fellow alum Emma Watson.
She labored at Each day Dose LDN and No1 Rosemary Water earlier than touchdown a job at Belazu – a B Corp components model – the place she is at present a Key Account Supervisor, in 2019.Â
Shut associates with the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duke is the youngest of Prince George’s godparents.
He has beforehand represented the nation at Olympic Skeet Capturing competitions each internationally and within the UK.
Hugh beforehand dated property and recruitment advisor Harriet Tomlinson, however the couple, who met at £6,000-a-term day faculty Ellesmere Faculty in Shropshire, cut up in 2020.
The Duke additionally helps the rehabilitation of wounded or injured members of the Armed Forces and donated £2.5million to the Well being Service when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, however mentioned he was so ‘humbled’ by the work of medical doctors and nurses he wished to provide one other £10million.
