Prince William Reportedly Set for Big Role Without Princess Kate

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Prince William has reportedly been tapped for a role in his friend’s wedding next month.

The Prince of Wales is set to serve as an usher in the Duke of Westminster’s wedding at Chester Cathedral on Friday, June 7, as first reported by The Sunday Times.

Hugh Grosvenor and his fiancée Olivia Henson‘s wedding is predicted to be one of the biggest star-studded events of the year, but it appears as though Kate Middleton will not be one of the 400 or so names attending from the guest list–neither will Prince Harry nor Meghan Markle, despite their bond with the duke.

According to the outlet, the Princess of Wales is not expected to be in attendance as she continues to undergo “preventative” chemotherapy for an undisclosed type of cancer she was diagnosed with earlier this year.

William and Kate have been close with Grosvenor for some time, as evidenced by their selection of the duke as one of 10-year-old Prince George‘s godparents. King Charles is also one of the 33-year-old’s godparents.

Likewise, Grosvenor’s relationship with Harry and the Suits alum is just as strong, seeing as though the groom-to-be is also one of the godparents of the Sussex’s 5-year-old son, Prince Archie.

As for the Duke and Duchess of Sussexes’ reason for not attending the celebration, The Times suggests there’s no rift between the dukes and their families, but rather, to “avoid royal tensions overshadowing the day.”
And what a day it will be! After the formal ceremony, guests will enjoy a lavish reception at nearby Eaton Hall, located on the Grosvenors’ 11,000-acre family estate, per the outlet. The following day, the newlyweds will host a second, smaller reception for close family and friends on the estate where the couple will live. Details of both receptions are being kept under wraps.