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Prince Harry has had a complicated relationship with his father, King Charles III. In his memoir, Harry wrote that he and his brother William pleaded with Charles not to marry Camilla, but the couple went on to have a fairytale wedding in 2005, which Harry and William attended. Harry has also missed weddings during visits to the UK, including that of his friend Lord Vivian, due to security concerns. Notably, Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle in 2018 was attended by the Queen, but not by his father, Charles.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Charles' wedding to Camilla | 9 April 2005 |
| Date of Harry and Meghan's wedding | 19 May 2018 |
| Queen's attendance at Charles' wedding | Absent |
| Queen's attendance at Harry and Meghan's wedding | Present |
| Reason for Queen's absence at Charles' wedding | The Queen is the Governor of the Church of England, which teaches that "marriage is for life" |
| Reason for Harry's absence at Lord Vivian's wedding | Security concerns |
| Harry's opinion on Charles' wedding to Camilla | Harry pleaded with Charles not to marry Camilla |
| Harry's attendance at Charles' coronation | Harry will attend, but Meghan will stay in California |
| Harry's attendance at friend Hugh Grosvenor's wedding | Declined invitation |
| Harry's attendance at friend's wedding in London | Absent |
| James Hewitt's attendance at Harry and Meghan's wedding | Banned by Charles |
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What You'll Learn
- Prince Harry did not attend his friend Lord Vivian's wedding
- The Queen did not attend her son Prince Charles' wedding to Camilla
- Harry and William pleaded with Charles not to marry Camilla
- Harry and Meghan's wedding: King Charles banned James Hewitt
- Harry missed a friend's wedding due to security issues
Prince Harry did not attend his friend Lord Vivian's wedding
Prince Harry did not attend his close friend Lord Vivian's wedding in London, despite being in the UK at the time. The Duke of Sussex was in London for a court hearing regarding his security arrangements in the country. Harry's legal team has previously stated that he "does not feel safe" bringing his family to the UK following the loss of their police protection. The prince himself has expressed a desire for 'reconciliation' with his father, King Charles, but claims that 'he won't speak to me'.
Lord Vivian, whose full name is Lord Charles Crespigny Hussey Vivian, confirmed that Harry had been invited to the wedding but was unable to attend. When asked by the Daily Mail's Richard Eden why the Duke couldn't be present, Lord Vivian responded, "I don't know. He has a lot on." This response has left some questioning the state of their friendship, especially since Lord Vivian was among the 'band of brothers' who stood with Harry at his wedding to Meghan Markle in 2018.
Harry's absence at Lord Vivian's wedding is not the first time he has missed a close friend's nuptials. The Duke of Sussex also turned down an invitation to the wedding of his friend Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster, who is a godfather to Harry's son, Archie. A source described the conversation between Harry and Hugh as "an understanding between the two friends," indicating that the decision for Harry not to attend was mutually agreed upon.
Despite any previous tensions, it seems that Harry and Lord Vivian remain on good terms. A source close to the Duke of Sussex told PEOPLE that Harry was unable to attend the wedding due to security concerns, which made attending events or moving around the country challenging. This was further confirmed by Lord Vivian, who acknowledged that Harry had a lot on his plate.
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The Queen did not attend her son Prince Charles' wedding to Camilla
As the Supreme Governor and head of the Church of England, a Christian denomination created by her ancestor King Henry VIII, the Queen takes her position and personal faith incredibly seriously. It is believed that her decision to skip the civil ceremony was influenced by her strong religious values, as the Church of England traditionally disapproves of the marriage of divorcees whose ex-spouses are still living. Both Charles and Camilla had been divorced, and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, refused to grant permission for them to marry in church due to opposition within the Anglican Church.
Despite not attending the civil ceremony, the Queen demonstrated her support for the couple by hosting a wedding reception for them at Windsor Castle and participating in a religious Service of Prayer and Dedication at St. George's Chapel. The Queen even made a speech at the reception, comparing the newlyweds to horses at the Grand National, indicating her happiness and approval of the union.
It is worth noting that Prince Harry and Prince William, Charles' sons, also opposed their father's marriage to Camilla. In his memoir, 'Spare', Harry wrote that he and William pleaded with their father not to marry Camilla, expressing their support for their father's relationship but requesting him not to marry her.
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Harry and William pleaded with Charles not to marry Camilla
In his 2023 memoir, 'Spare', Prince Harry claimed that he and his brother, William, pleaded with their father, King Charles, not to marry Camilla, the Queen Consort. Harry wrote that they supported their father and were willing to accept Camilla into the family, but they did not want them to marry. They felt that a marriage would cause controversy and bring unwanted scrutiny, as Camilla was widely seen as the “other woman" who had an affair with Charles during his marriage to their mother, Princess Diana.
Harry wrote, "We support you, we said. We endorse Camilla, we said. Just please don't marry her. Just be together, Pa." He also expressed his initial fears about Camilla, worrying that she would be like a “wicked stepmother" from the stories he read. Harry and William had private meetings with Camilla, where they got to know her, and they eventually welcomed her into the family. However, they drew the line at their father marrying her.
The brothers' opposition to the marriage was not the only hurdle Charles and Camilla faced. The late Queen Elizabeth II, who was the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, did not attend the civil ceremony, although she was present at the religious blessing. The Queen's support was crucial to ensure Charles remained in the line of succession. Initially, the Queen was not supportive of Camilla, referring to her as "that wicked woman" and refusing to condone Charles' adultery. However, by 2000, she indicated her tacit approval of their relationship and eventually gave them permission to marry.
Despite the opposition and hurdles, Charles and Camilla persevered, and their wedding, which took place on April 9, 2005, was dubbed a "fairytale for grown-ups." The couple enjoyed a beautiful spring day for their seamless affair, which included a civil ceremony at Windsor's Guildhall, followed by a blessing from the Archbishop of Canterbury at St. George's Chapel. While the wedding day was hitch-free, the long journey towards it was filled with challenges, including opposition from senior members of the Royal Family, particularly Prince Harry.
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Harry and Meghan's wedding: King Charles banned James Hewitt
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in 2018 was a highly anticipated event, with the world eager to witness the union of the beloved couple. However, amidst the joy and celebration, there was also a notable absence that sparked curiosity and speculation. It was later revealed that King Charles, then the Prince of Wales, had prohibited one person from the guest list – Major James Hewitt, Princess Diana's ex-lover and Harry's rumoured biological father.
The decision to ban Hewitt from the royal wedding was reportedly made by then-Prince Charles, who, according to sources, furiously demanded that Hewitt be left out. The optics of having the then-prince's ex-lover as a guest did not align with the Royals' image. Harry, however, had initially wanted to invite Hewitt to the wedding as a way to honour his mother's memory and the significance she attached to Hewitt's presence.
Princess Diana and Major James Hewitt's relationship had been a subject of much speculation and controversy. Hewitt, a former British Cavalry officer, gained media attention in the 1990s after admitting that he had dated Princess Diana while she was married to Prince Charles. The exact timeline of their relationship remains disputed, with some claiming they met at a dinner party in 1985, a year after Harry's birth, while others suggest they met before Diana's marriage to Charles in 1981.
Despite the disputes, the rumours of Hewitt being Harry's biological father persisted, and according to Harry, King Charles would often make cruel and unfunny jokes about it. In his autobiography, Harry recalls Charles saying, "Who knows if I'm really the Prince of Wales? Who knows if I'm even your real father?" a remark that Harry described as sadistic and remarkably unfunny given the circumstances.
The tension and complexities surrounding the guest list for Harry and Meghan's wedding highlight the challenges of royal family dynamics and the intense public scrutiny they face. While Hewitt was reportedly heartbroken about not receiving an invitation, the decision ultimately rested with the royal family, who prioritised their image and reputation.
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Harry missed a friend's wedding due to security issues
Prince Harry missed his friend Lord Vivian's wedding to Saweda Kamara due to security concerns. Harry returned to the UK on Sunday, April 6, 2025, but did not attend the nuptials. The Duke of Sussex's lawyer, Shadeed Fatima KC, argued that the UK government's security committee failed to properly assess threats to Harry and his family. Harry has stated that he "does not feel safe" bringing his family to his home country following the loss of their police protection. An insider close to Harry claimed that the primary reason for his absence from the wedding was the lack of security provided for his visit, which made attending events or moving around the UK challenging.
Lord Vivian attended the Duke of Sussex's wedding to Meghan Markle in May 2018. However, Harry was unable to reciprocate by attending Lord Vivian's wedding in 2025. This is not the first time Harry has missed the wedding of a close friend. He also missed the wedding of Jack Mann in Suffolk in 2023.
In addition to the wedding of Lord Vivian, Harry has also faced challenges attending other events in the UK due to security concerns. Harry embarked on a tour to crime-ridden Colombia and visited Nigeria, where the murder rate is ten times higher than in England, despite his security worries in the UK.
Harry's security concerns in the UK have been a source of legal battle for the Duke of Sussex. He has been seeking restored security arrangements in his home country. Harry's team has argued that the UK government's security committee failed to properly assess threats to him and his family. Despite these efforts, Harry lost a critical Court of Appeal hearing in April 2025, where he sought to restore his taxpayer-funded security when visiting the UK.
Harry's security concerns have also impacted his attendance at family weddings. In 2024, he turned down an invitation to the wedding of his friend and godfather to his son Archie, Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster. It was mutually agreed that Harry would not attend the wedding, and his brother, Prince William, served as an usher.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Prince Charles did not attend Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding.
It is believed that the Queen did not attend her son Prince Charles' wedding to Camilla Parker Bowles because she was a divorcee, and the Queen is the Governor of the Church of England.
Yes, Prince Harry attended his father's wedding to Camilla Parker Bowles. However, he pleaded with his father not to marry her.
No, Prince Harry did not invite James Hewitt to his wedding. It is rumoured that King Charles prohibited him from attending.
