Why Prince William Made the Cut for Peter Phillips's Wedding — But Harry Didn’t
The celebration is expected to depict a much more modern face of the royal family.
Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling are all set to tie the knot on June 6, in a wedding that is being dubbed as one of the Royal Family's most closely watched private gatherings of the year by multiple outlets. Several senior royals like Prince William, Princess Kate, Zara and Mike Tindall, Princess Beatrice, and Princess Eugenie will be marking their presence at the ceremony. According to royal commentator Emily Nash, the celebration’s unique blend of immediate and extended relatives is expected to showcase "a much more modern face of the royal family.”
As per Page Six, the guest list has attracted attention for one notable omission: Prince Harry. Discussing the decision with the outlet, Nash suggested his absence comes down to personal relationships rather than protocol. She elaborated, “I think it comes down to interpersonal relationships, doesn't it? What we were told was that Peter hadn't spoken to Harry for the last few years. And so it sort of has been a natural cooling off, and he wasn't invited as a result.” On the other hand, she added that the groom-to-be, Peter Phillips, remains “very close” to Prince William. Princess Anne’s son is “very loyal; he's very protective. He's been a very good sounding board to his cousin over the years." Hence, Nash believes, "It absolutely makes sense that I think had both Wales brothers been there, it would have put a completely different slant on the whole event."
That dynamic is particularly significant given Peter Phillips' past role as a buffer within the family. Nash recalled how he acted as a "peacemaker" during Prince Philip's funeral in 2021, famously walking between the feuding brothers when tensions were running high. She recalled, "Peter was positioned between the two warring brothers... He was sort of put right in the middle of them as the older cousin, and that must have been a really difficult moment for him." The expert added that "of course, a lot of water has gone under the bridge since then," pointing to the Duke’s memoir Spare and the Sussexes' Netflix docuseries as further sources of strain within the family.
Given this troubled history, Nash considers the decision to exclude Prince Harry a practical choice. The expert told the outlet it was a "smart" move because the Duke's presence could have overshadowed the couple's big day. She explained, "If that had been the case, that would have become the absolute focal point for Peter and Harriet's special day, and there have been enough distractions, I think, from the good things about the royal family over the past year,” and added, "Hopefully, they can just have this one day to come together and celebrate someone's happy news for a change."
Ahead of the anticipated nuptials, all eyes will be on the guest list and what each appearance might signal. Nash believes King Charles could "make an appearance," while William and Kate's children may also be present. Additionally, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie are expected to attend, marking their first major family gathering following recent controversies surrounding their father, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Yet, Nash cautioned against reading too much into the guest list. She shared, "It will kind of show that there is still a place for them within the family," before emphasizing that "this is very much a family occasion and not an official one." As for Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson, Nash was less optimistic and said, "I would say slim to zero. I don't think we'll see either Andrew or Sarah there."
