One of the Royal Family’s closest friends is counting down to his wedding day, but it has not been without its fair share of questions when it comes to the guest list.

The Duke of Westminster, 33, will marry Olivia Henson later this year in what has been dubbed ‘the society event of the year’. While the full list of those in attendance is not yet confirmed, Prince William is expected to serve as an usher, while Prince Harry will reportedly not attend.

Despite having been close since they were all very young, Harry’s absence from the day has been widely spoken about, with a leading royal expert telling OK! that the situation must be a “grim reality for him”.

“This will be another pinch point for Harry,” former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond explains. “Another illustration that he has now excluded himself from the royal family, and from most of his UK friends. It must be a grim reality for him.

“You do have to wonder whether he realised that by walking away from his Royal life, he was alienating himself from pretty much everyone and everything he had known in the UK.

“You can’t ask your friends to choose between yourself and your brother – especially when your brother is a future King. It’s very sad. It’s very awkward for people like the Duke of Westminster who have been very good and close friends with both William and Harry for many years. But, as with divorces, choices have to be made and they are always difficult.

“The wedding will be another graphic illustration that Harry‘s life is now elsewhere and we really shouldn’t expect to see him at any gatherings of the Royal family or their friends. That time has passed.”

Hugh Richard Louis Grosvenor was born on 29 January, 1991 in London and was the third of four child who were born to the late Gerald Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster and his wife, Natalia (one of Prince William’s godmothers).

Hugh and his siblings were educated at a state primary school and then went on to study at the private Mostyn House School in Cheshire. He continued his education at Ellesmere College and then earnt a degree in countryside management from Newcastle University.

After a few years of working for various estate management companies, Hugh succeeded his father and became the 7th Duke of Westminster when the former Duke sadly died from a heart attack at the age of 64.

At the time of his succession, he inherited an estimated wealth of £9 billion and gained several new estates. He is also known by the titles of Marquess of Westminster, Earl Grosvenor, Viscount Belgrave and Baron Grosvenor.

Hugh also became the head of The Grosvenor Group upon his father’s death which means he owns several huge areas of London, as well as land and over 1,500 buildings all across the world.

His two elder sisters are Lady Tamara and Lady Edwina. The former married close royal friend Edward van Cutsem in 2004 and has three children, Jake, Louis and Isla van Cutsem. Lady Edwina married TV presenter and historian Dan Snow in 2010 and the pair have three children, Zia, Wolf and Orla.

Hugh became one of Prince George’s seven godparents when he was christened in 2013 and is also rumoured to be Prince Archie’s godfather.

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