When Prince Harry married Meghan Markle, two of his ex-girlfriends, Chelsy Davy and Cressida Bonas, were among the 600 guests in attendance. While inviting exes to a wedding isn't standard protocol, Harry remained on good terms with both women, and they were all part of the same social circle. Davy even stated that she and Harry would always be good friends. Additionally, it's not uncommon for royals to invite their exes to their weddings. Prince William invited five ex-girlfriends to his wedding to Kate Middleton, and Prince Charles invited two exes to his wedding to Princess Diana.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Inviting exes to a wedding | Not standard protocol |
Prince Harry's exes | Chelsy Davy, Cressida Bonas |
Reason for breakups | Media attention, public scrutiny, pressure of dating a royal |
Relationship status with exes | Ended on good terms, remained close friends |
Social circles | Run in similar social circles, attend each other's events |
Royal precedent | Prince William invited 5 ex-girlfriends to his wedding; Prince Charles invited 2 exes to his wedding |
Impact on current partner | Secure and confident in their relationship |
What You'll Learn
Harry remained on good terms with Chelsy Davy and Cressida Bonas
Prince Harry's decision to invite his ex-girlfriends, Chelsy Davy and Cressida Bonas, to his wedding to Meghan Markle raised eyebrows. However, Harry remained on good terms with both Davy and Bonas, and their attendance at his wedding confirmed this.
Harry dated Davy on and off for several years in his early twenties, with their final split occurring in 2011. He dated Bonas for two years, and they parted ways in 2014. Both relationships ended due to the challenges of dating a royal, namely the constant media attention and public scrutiny. Despite the breakups, Harry maintained a positive relationship with his exes.
Harry and Davy stayed in touch, and she expressed that they would "always be good friends." Even after their breakup, Harry attended plays in which Bonas was performing, and she remained close friends with Harry's cousin, Princess Eugenie.
The royal tradition of inviting exes to weddings also played a role in Harry's decision. It is not uncommon for royals to extend invitations to their former partners, as seen in the weddings of Prince William and Prince Charles. Harry's invitation to Davy and Bonas reflected his maturity and their mutual desire to remain on amicable terms.
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Harry and Meghan were secure in their relationship
Harry and Meghan's decision to invite Harry's exes to their wedding is a testament to the security and maturity of their relationship. Inviting ex-partners to a wedding can be a complex and emotionally charged decision. However, Harry and Meghan's willingness to include Chelsy Davy and Cressida Bonas, Harry's former girlfriends, demonstrates their confidence and emotional maturity.
Firstly, it indicates that Harry and Meghan were secure in their relationship and had a mature understanding of their past. They recognised that these ex-partners were not a threat to their marriage but instead valued friends. This maturity and security allowed them to rise above any potential jealousy or insecurity and focus on the importance of these friendships.
Secondly, it reflects well on Meghan that she felt secure enough in her relationship with Harry to welcome his exes to their wedding. It demonstrates her trust in Harry and her confidence in their bond. This trust and confidence are essential in any healthy and lasting relationship, and it is a strong statement that Meghan was comfortable enough to make.
Additionally, the presence of Harry's exes at the wedding can be seen as a sign of his maturity and emotional growth. By inviting them, Harry showed that he had moved on and was secure enough in his new relationship to celebrate his past friendships. This maturity is a testament to his character and his ability to maintain healthy relationships, even after a breakup.
Furthermore, the decision to invite Davy and Bonas may have been influenced by the nature of Harry's relationships with them. Both relationships ended amicably, with reports suggesting that the breakups were due to the challenges of dating a royal rather than any personal conflicts. This indicates that Harry and his exes had a mutual understanding and respect for each other, which made their presence at the wedding more comfortable and less likely to cause tension.
Finally, it is worth noting that inviting exes to royal weddings is not uncommon. Prince William invited five ex-girlfriends to his wedding to Kate Middleton, and Prince Charles invited two exes to his wedding to Princess Diana. This context adds a cultural dimension to Harry and Meghan's decision, suggesting that it is a tradition within royal circles to maintain amicable relationships with ex-partners.
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It's not unusual for royals to invite exes to weddings
Inviting exes to weddings is a tradition set by Harry's father, Prince Charles, who invited two exes to his wedding to Princess Diana, including his now-wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and Lady Sarah McCorquodale, the bride's sister. Similarly, Prince William invited five ex-girlfriends to his 2011 wedding to Kate Middleton.
The flexibility of the guest list is also a factor, as William and Harry are not the direct heirs to the throne, allowing for more freedom in their choices. Additionally, remaining friendly with exes and maintaining close social circles is common among royals. This tradition may be seen as a courteous and gentlemanly gesture, reflecting the maturity and security of the couple getting married.
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Harry still moves in the same social circles as his exes
It is not uncommon for royals to invite their exes to their weddings. Prince Harry, for instance, invited two of his ex-girlfriends, Chelsy Davy and Cressida Bonas, to his wedding to Meghan Markle. The two exes were seen smiling before, during, and after the service at St George's Chapel, showing that Harry is mature enough to be friends with his exes.
Harry and Davy dated on and off for several years in his early twenties, with their last attempt at reconciliation coming in 2011. He and Bonas dated for two years, splitting up in 2014. Both relationships ended because the women involved didn't like the attention and constant harassment and scrutiny that came with dating a royal. Despite the breakups, Harry ended on good terms with both Davy and Bonas, and he still moves in the same social circles as them.
Bonas is close friends with Harry's cousin, Princess Eugenie, and in 2015, Harry was spotted in the audience of plays Bonas performed in—more than a year after their breakup. As for Davy, she was quoted in June 2016, shortly before Harry and Meghan started dating, as saying that they had stayed close and always would. “I think we will always be good friends,” she told The Sunday Times.
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Harry's exes didn't like the scrutiny of dating a royal
It is understood that Prince Harry's relationship with Chelsy Davy ended because she didn't like the attention, harassment, and constant scrutiny that comes with dating a royal. Davy reportedly wasn't comfortable with taking on the role of a working royal and didn't want to leave her home country of South Africa. Similarly, Harry's relationship with Cressida Bonas ended because she also didn't like the media attention that came with dating a royal. Bonas "really hated" the media attention and found it very difficult to deal with.
Davy and Bonas were both in attendance at Prince Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle. This may be because Harry ended his relationships with them on good terms. He remained in contact with Davy, who said in 2016 that they had stayed close and always would be good friends. Harry was spotted in the audience of plays Bonas performed in more than a year after their breakup. Additionally, Harry still runs in similar social circles with his exes. Bonas is close friends with Harry's cousin, Princess Eugenie, and Davy was invited to William and Kate's wedding.
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Frequently asked questions
Prince Harry invited his ex-girlfriends, Chelsy Davy and Cressida Bonas, to his wedding to Meghan Markle because he was on good terms with them. Both women had dated Harry for several years and the relationships ended amicably. Harry and Meghan's wedding was also not considered a 'state occasion', which meant there was more flexibility with the guest list.
Chelsy Davy and Prince Harry broke up because Davy wasn't comfortable with the media attention and pressure that came with dating a royal. She reportedly didn't want to leave her home country of South Africa and take on the role of a working royal.
It is unclear whether Cressida Bonas attended the wedding. While she was invited, she may have chosen not to go due to the inevitable media attention and comparisons with Meghan Markle.