Should Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have attended the royal wedding of Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling? Mirror readers are debating the issue after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were notably absent from the ceremony, which took place on Saturday at All Saints Church in Kemble, Gloucestershire.
Royal Wedding Absence Sparks Debate
Members of the Royal Family gathered in the picturesque countryside to celebrate the marriage of Peter Phillips, 48, and Harriet Sperling, 45, an NHS nurse. However, the absence of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was hard to ignore. It is understood the Sussexes were not invited to the intimate gathering, which included senior royals such as King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William, and Princess Kate.
The newlyweds looked elated as they emerged from the church, sharing smiles with guests after the ceremony. The couple, who began dating in 2024, later celebrated with family and friends close to Princess Anne's Gatcombe Park estate.
A Smaller, More Intimate Celebration
Unlike some royal weddings of the past, Peter and Harriet opted for a smaller celebration. Both have been married before, with Peter divorcing Autumn Kelly in 2021 and Harriet previously separating from Antonio St John Sperling. While the guest list may have been scaled back, it has sparked questions over whether Harry and Meghan should have been included.
According to Hello!, the Duke of Sussex was not invited despite previously sharing a close relationship with his cousin. The outlet reported that the pair have drifted apart in recent years following Harry's move to the US. A friend close to the couple told the publication: "Peter and Harry haven't spoken for several years and have simply lost touch, so he hasn't been invited."
Fractured Relationships Within the Royal Family
The reported snub comes as Harry's relationship with much of the Royal Family remains fractured following years of public tensions. However, there was once a time when Harry and his older brother, Prince William, were both close to Peter. The Daily Mail reports that Harry's relationship with his cousin was damaged by events surrounding Peter's first wedding to Autumn Kelly in 2008.
According to the newspaper, Peter's decision to sell exclusive photographs from the wedding to Hello! magazine for a reported £500,000 upset Harry, who attended the ceremony with then-girlfriend Chelsy Davy. The Duke is said to have believed the photographer present was taking pictures for the couple's private collection and was unaware the images would later appear in a magazine.
Whether that disagreement remains a factor nearly two decades later is unclear. However, the reported lack of contact between the cousins appears to have played a significant role in Harry's absence from the celebrations.
Other Notable Absences
Harry and Meghan were not the only notable names missing from the guest list. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson were also not invited, as Andrew has largely withdrawn from public royal life following the fallout from his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Surprisingly, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie joined the rest of the Royal Family for the first time in months as they gathered to celebrate the wedding. It is the first time they have been included in a large Royal Family gathering since the arrest of their father.
As senior royals turned out in force for Peter's big day, Harry's absence once again highlighted the deep divisions that continue to exist within the Royal Family. While the Sussexes were thousands of miles away in California, their no-show is likely to reignite debate over whether enough time has passed for old family rifts to finally be put aside.
