A close friend of the Duke of Sussex says Harry didn’t attend his wedding despite being invited, saying “he has a lot on”. Lord Charles Vivian, who featured in the ‘band of brothers’ photo at Windsor Castle on the night of the Prince and Meghan Markle’s wedding in 2018, tied the knot with his new wife Saweda Kamara in London over the weekend.
When asked why the Duke didn’t attend, Lord Vivian told the Daily Mail’s Diary Editor Richard Eden: “I don’t know. He has a lot on.” It comes as Tuesday marked the first day of the Duke’s appeal against the dismissal of his legal challenge over the level of protection he is given while visiting the UK.
Harry was in attendance at the Royal Courts of Justice in London after reportedly landing in the capital on Sunday.
He is challenging the dismissal of his High Court legal action against the Home Office over the decision of the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec) that he should receive a different degree of taxpayer-funded protection when in the country.
Last year, retired High Court judge Sir Peter Lane ruled that Ravec’s decision, taken in early 2020 after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex quit as senior working royals, was not irrational or procedurally unfair.
Lord Vivian, 58, a public relations expert, is said to have helped Harry set up several of his charity trips to Africa and the Duke of Sussex was an usher at his first wedding.
According to the Daily Mail, Lord Vivian tied the knot over the weekend at Chelsea Old Town Hall with a reception held at The Nomad hotel.
The Duke of Sussex also missed the wedding of his friend Jack Mann in Suffolk in 2023, according to the Mail.
Mr Mann was Prince Harry’s usher for his 2018 wedding and also appeard in the ‘band of brothers’ photograph on the Duke’s wedding night.
He was reportedly Harry’s “unofficial best man” – the official honour was given to Prince William.
