It’s not every day a royal RSVP goes missing, but Prince Harry has stirred up some quiet buzz after skipping the wedding of one of his longtime friends — despite recently traveling to much riskier places abroad.
His absence from the weekend ceremony in London didn’t go unnoticed, especially considering the close bond he once shared with the groom.
A No-Show at a Wedding That Meant Something
Over the weekend, Charles Vivian — a PR figure and a longtime friend of Prince Harry — tied the knot with Saweda Kamara in Chelsea.
Many familiar faces turned up for the celebration, including Mark Dyer, Harry’s former mentor and often described as his “second father.” But Harry? Nowhere in sight.
This wasn’t just any wedding, either. Vivian was one of the key guys in that memorable “band of brothers” photo from Harry and Meghan’s 2018 royal wedding in Windsor.
Harry had even served as an usher at Vivian’s first wedding. Naturally, his absence this time around raised eyebrows.
Why Harry Stayed Away
So why the no-show? According to a source close to the Duke of Sussex, it all boiled down to security — or rather, the lack of it.
“The main reason,” the insider said, “is that security wasn’t provided for the visit, which makes attending events or moving around the UK very challenging.”
It’s not just about this one event either. Harry is currently in the middle of a legal battle over his right to receive police protection when he visits the UK.
Just yesterday, he showed up at the Royal Courts of Justice for a Court of Appeal hearing related to that ongoing case.
The timing of it all adds an extra layer of complication.
Royal Priorities Under Pressure
Though Lord Vivian didn’t give a specific reason for Harry’s absence, he confirmed that the invitation was extended. “I don’t know.
He has a lot on,” Vivian told reporters when asked about his friend’s no-show.
And it’s not the first time this has happened. In 2023, Harry also skipped the wedding of another one of his close mates, Jack Mann, in Suffolk.
Mann, too, was part of that trusted circle that supported Harry through many pivotal moments.
Tensions Behind the Scenes
Even though Harry and Mark Dyer remain close, there’s been some shake-up behind the scenes.
Just last month, it came to light that Dyer and other trustees stepped down from Harry’s charity, Sentebale, following disagreements with the board’s chair.
Harry, loyal to his team, also resigned in solidarity. It’s been a season of shifting alliances — both publicly and personally.
Contrasting Choices Raise Eyebrows
What’s most striking, though, is that just last year, Prince Harry and Meghan went on tour to Colombia — a country known for high crime rates — and later visited Nigeria, where the murder rate is significantly higher than in the UK. And yet, London was apparently deemed too risky.
It’s clear that security remains a major sticking point for the prince, especially as he navigates his post-royal life and increasingly strained ties to the UK.
Whether it’s a court case or a wedding, every public step he takes seems to come with legal and personal calculations.