Prince Harry has gained attention for not attending the wedding of a close friend, despite being invited. The Duke of Sussex was noticeably absent from Charles Vivian’s wedding on April 5, 2025, a decision that has surprised many given their long-standing friendship.

Lord Vivian, 58, a public relations expert who has supported Harry over the years and helped organize numerous charity initiatives in Africa, married Saweda Kamara at Chelsea Old Town Hall in London, England. Prince Harry’s past role as an usher at Vivian’s first wedding makes his absence from this event more noticeable.

When questioned about Harry’s absence, Lord Vivian told the Daily Mail: “I don’t know. He has a lot on.”

Sources close to the Duke indicate that security concerns were the main reason for his absence. “Security wasn’t provided for the visit, which makes attending events or moving around the UK very challenging,” one source stated.

The wedding date coincided with Prince Harry’s discreet trip to London, where he arrived on Sunday, April 6, to participate in a Court of Appeal hearing regarding his ongoing legal dispute over security arrangements in the UK. Since stepping back from royal duties in 2020, Harry has been seeking to restore his publicly funded police protection, which was reduced following his change in status.

During the proceedings, Harry’s lawyer argued that without the highest level of police protection, his safety, security, and life were at stake. The government defended its decision, explaining that Harry’s security was not entirely revoked but adjusted due to his “change of status” and relocation abroad. They assert that a “bespoke” approach to his protection has been adopted.

The timing of Harry’s visit to the UK coincidentally offered a rare chance to see his father, King Charles, whom he reportedly has not seen since the monarch’s cancer diagnosis was disclosed over a year ago. King Charles embarked on a state visit to Italy shortly after Harry arrived in London, and it is unclear whether the father and son met during this brief period.

This visit to the UK occurs amid issues surrounding Prince Harry’s African charity, Sentebale, which he co-founded in 2006 to support children with HIV/AIDS in southern Africa. Harry and his co-founder, Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, recently stepped down as patrons following a disagreement with the charity’s chairwoman, Sophie Chandauka.

The conflict within the charity has led to the UK Charity Commission launching a compliance case to examine governance issues. Harry expressed his concern about the situation, describing it as “heartbreaking” to see the chairwoman facing allegations of bullying and harassment in efforts to remove her from her role.

Several senior officials have resigned from Sentebale following the conflict with Chandauka, who has declined to step down despite being asked to do so. The disagreement appears to center around a shift in the charity’s mission, from supporting children with HIV/AIDS to “addressing issues of youth health, wealth, and climate resilience in Southern Africa.”

Chandauka has raised significant concerns about the charity’s operations, citing issues of “poor governance, weak executive management, abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny, misogynoir.” She has also suggested that Prince Harry’s “toxicity” has become a barrier to potential donors.

Harry has welcomed the Charity Commission’s investigation, hoping it will “unveil the truth” and enable the organization to be “put in the right hands.” The dispute has taken a personal toll on the Duke, especially as Sentebale has been a central part of his public image since his early twenties.

Some reports suggest that tensions at Sentebale may have originated from an incident involving Meghan Markle. According to one account, Meghan allegedly had an issue with Chandauka after appearing unengaged at a charity event. Harry reportedly asked Chandauka to defend Meghan publicly, but she refused, which may have sparked the subsequent conflict.

While Harry addresses these matters in the UK, Meghan Markle remains in California, preparing to launch her new podcast series, “Confessions of a Female Founder.” Produced in collaboration with Lemonada Media, the podcast aims to guide budding small ideas into successful ventures.

Harry’s ongoing legal issues and charity disputes underscore the challenges he faces since stepping back from royal duties. The judges overseeing his security appeal are expected to release a written decision at a later date, likely after Easter.