Why Prince Harry Really Missed His Friend’s Wedding Despite U.K. Visit

Prince Harry returned to the U.K. for a court appeal over his security arrangements — but that same issue kept him from attending a friend’s wedding in London over the weekend.

Charles, Lord Vivian wed Saweda Kamara at Chelsea Old Town Hall in London on Saturday, April 5. Although Harry now lives in California and returned to the U.K. over the weekend, he did not attend the nuptials.

A source close to the Duke of Sussex, 40, tells PEOPLE that Harry was unable to attend the wedding because security wasn’t provided for the Duke’s visit to the U.K., which makes attending events or moving around the country very challenging.

According to the Daily Mail’s Richard Eden, Lord Vivian confirmed that Prince Harry was invited to the wedding. When asked why Harry didn’t come, Lord Vivian reportedly said, “I don’t know. He has a lot on.”

Lord Vivian, 58, was among the guests at Prince Harry’s May 2018 wedding to Meghan Markle. He also appeared alongside the Duke of Sussex in a group shot of his “band of brothers” that was featured in the Netflix series Harry & Meghan.

Last year, the Duke of Sussex also turned down an invitation to the wedding of his friend Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster, who is a godfather to Harry’s son, Prince Archie. A source described the conversation between Harry and Hugh as “an understanding between the two friends,” and an insider close to the bride and groom told PEOPLE that the two mutually agreed on the decision for Harry not to come.

Harry’s brother, Prince William, had a formal role at the nuptials at Chester Cathedral, serving as an usher. The brothers’ cousin Princess Eugenie also attended the high-society event.

After reportedly arriving in the U.K. on Sunday, April 6, Prince Harry stepped out in London two days later for the proceedings at the Court of Appeal. Tuesday’s hearing was the latest in the Duke of Sussex’s legal battle for security in his home country.

After Prince Harry and Meghan, 43, stepped back from their royal duties in 2020, the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (RAVEC) stripped Harry’s automatic right to U.K. police security. A judge upheld the government and RAVEC’s decision to downgrade Prince Harry’s security last year, a decision Harry is appealing.

The Duke of Sussex’s lawyer, Shadeed Fatima KC, argued that the U.K. government’s security committee failed to properly assess threats to Harry and his family and bypassed the Risk Management Board when deciding on his protection status. Fatima said RAVEC “diverted” from its usual process and imposed a “bespoke” arrangement on Harry.

The Home Office argued that RAVEC was entitled to tailor a different approach for Harry based on his specific circumstances, which they say was better suited for the situation.

The Duke of Sussex’s legal team previously said that he “does not feel safe” bringing his family — including son Prince Archie, 5, and daughter Princess Lilibet, 3 — to his home country following the loss of their police protection.

Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! 

Arguments over Prince Harry’s security in the U.K. have also been part of ongoing tensions between Harry and his father, King Charles. Although the British monarch has no governmental power in the U.K. or influence on RAVEC, the Duke of Sussex believes his father could intervene to ensure his safety.

It’s not known if Prince Harry saw King Charles, 76, during his visit to the U.K. Although Harry arrived in his home country on Sunday, April 6, the monarch left for a state visit in Italy the following day. The last time the father and son are known to have reunited was in February 2024, when Harry flew to London from California shortly after the King announced his cancer diagnosis, and they had a brief meeting.