The wedding in question is that of Hugh Grosvenor, the 7th Duke of Westminster, who is also the godfather to Harry's son, Archie. With William reportedly set to serve as an usher, the expert suggests that Harry has opted to avoid the "awkward" encounter with his family members.
"Self-imposed exile can have a bitter taste," notes commentator Richard Fitzwilliams. He points out that the Sussexes have been conspicuously absent from other high-profile events, such as Barack Obama's 60th birthday celebration and the Oscars and Met Gala - functions where one might expect the couple to make an appearance if they were truly seeking A-list status.
Fitzwilliams observes that "optics matter if you have pretensions to be A-listers." And with the Sussexes seemingly shunning opportunities to mingle with the royal and celebrity elite, their self-imposed isolation has become increasingly apparent.
The decision to skip Archie's godfather's wedding is just the latest chapter in the ongoing saga of the rift between the Sussex and Cambridge households. For Harry, it seems, the prospect of an "awkward" reunion with his brother is enough to keep him from even attending a close friend's nuptials. The widening divide only underscores the Sussexes' apparent choice to forge a new path, even if it means distancing themselves from the trappings of their royal pedigree.
