It’s embarrassing enough to run into an ex at a wedding, but on Saturday no fewer than nine women who have been linked to Princes William and Harry were at the nuptials of their friends Thomas van Straubenzee and Lady Melissa Percy at Alnwick Castle in Northumberland.
And if that wasn’t drama enough, the first Royal Baby false alarm was sounded by crowds gathered outside when an RAF search-and-rescue helicopter flew overhead, sparking speculation that the Duke of Cambridge was being rushed back to London to be at the bedside of his heavily pregnant wife.
It flew low and circled the castle for several minutes, according to other witnesses who thought it had been planned as a wedding surprise. But a St James’s Palace spokesman denied that the Prince had arranged it.
William, who shared best-man duties at the wedding, attended the occasion without Kate who at the last minute decided not to attend in case she went into early labour.
Here, NATALIE CLARKE examines the William and Harry Ex-files...
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Fancy seeing you here! Prince Harry having fun at the wedding (left) and Prince William greets his six-pack of exes (right)
Kiss for the bride: Lady Melissa Percy and Thomas van Straubenzee kiss following their wedding at St Michael's Parish Church
Harry's blondes...
Astrid Harbord, 31
Not considered princess material, party-loving Astrid and her sister Davina have been dubbed ‘the hardcore sisters’. In 2009, Astrid and Harry were seen in a car entering Clarence House by a rear gate at 1.30am.
Not considered princess material, party-loving Astrid and her sister Davina have been dubbed ‘the hardcore sisters’. In 2009, Astrid and Harry were seen in a car entering Clarence House by a rear gate at 1.30am.
Family is descended from landowner Harbord Harbord, who was made Baron Suffield by Prime Minister William Pitt in 1786. Last year, her father, Charles, committed suicide after being forced to sell the family home.
Astrid, who runs her own PR company, attended the wedding with Davina.
Hard to miss in red and pink teamed with Lulu Guinness clutch, £295, and Jimmy Choo wedges, £325.
After six years with Prince Harry Chelsy Davy decided that the royal life was not for her
Astrid Harbord was not considered princess material due to her party-loving ways
Last week Cressdia Bonas was spotted flirting with a different Harry at a party in London
Chelsy Davy, 27
Her six years with Harry were turbulent and ultimately painful when they split in 2010 after she decided: ‘It’s not a life for me.’
Her six years with Harry were turbulent and ultimately painful when they split in 2010 after she decided: ‘It’s not a life for me.’
She is the daughter of multi-millionaire Charles, who ran a game reserve in Zimbabwe, and Beverley, a former Miss Coca-Cola Rhodesia. Chelsy is single after splitting from boyfriend Matthew Mills and is working as a trainee solicitor at respected London law firm Allen & Overy.
Maid of honour Chelsy wore an £8,000, figure-hugging Bruce Oldfield dress, with champagne silk shoes.
Cressida Bonas, 23
Began dating Prince Harry last year and was seen in a clinch with him on the ski slopes in February. But last week fun-loving Cressida was seen ‘flirting’ at a party in London with another Harry — Harry Wentworth-Stanley, an old flame from Leeds University.
Began dating Prince Harry last year and was seen in a clinch with him on the ski slopes in February. But last week fun-loving Cressida was seen ‘flirting’ at a party in London with another Harry — Harry Wentworth-Stanley, an old flame from Leeds University.
Aspiring actress Cressy’s half-sister Isabella has just married Sam Branson.
Her mother is renowned Sixties It-Girl Lady Mary-Gaye Curzon.
Cressida dresses up her Heidi Klein boho maxi dress, £430, with a vintage blue sequin jacket and glitter heels recycled from the
pre-Wimbledon dinner.
pre-Wimbledon dinner.
William's beauties...
Jecca Craig, 31
In 2003, it was reported that a besotted William had a fling with Jecca during a visit to her family’s wildlife reserve in Kenya. It was even rumoured that they carried out a pretend engagement.
In 2003, it was reported that a besotted William had a fling with Jecca during a visit to her family’s wildlife reserve in Kenya. It was even rumoured that they carried out a pretend engagement.
Jecca’s family are part of Kenya’s so-called Happy Valley set — white Kenyan aristocracy. Last year, it was reported she had got back with on-off boyfriend, venture capitalist Hugh Crossley. She now works as a London literary agent.
She wore a Reiss Nerissa dress, £189, M&S heels, £49, and added a little glamour with an Alex Monroe bumblebee necklace, £150.
Davina Duckworth-Chad, 34
Once accompanied William on a cruise of the Aegean Sea in 1999 with Prince Charles and Camilla. Rumoured that having his father on board gave Wills a perfect ‘cover’ for inviting lots of pretty girls on his ‘love boat’.
Once accompanied William on a cruise of the Aegean Sea in 1999 with Prince Charles and Camilla. Rumoured that having his father on board gave Wills a perfect ‘cover’ for inviting lots of pretty girls on his ‘love boat’.
Davina comes from old money, being the daughter of Norfolk landowner Old Etonian Anthony Duckworth-Chad. Her brother, James, was equerry to the Queen. She married baronet’s son Tom Barber in 2004 and has twin daughters.
Her black Marzi hat, £209, is quite funereal, but Davina adds a pop of colour in a coral Reiss ruffle-hem dress, £179.
Natalie Hicks-Lobbecke, 33
An Army officer’s daughter from Warminster, Wiltshire, she used to flirt with William at the Beaufort Polo Club.
An Army officer’s daughter from Warminster, Wiltshire, she used to flirt with William at the Beaufort Polo Club.
Too serious and clever to have been a princess, the Bristol University graduate has worked as a security consultant in Iraq for a London-based company.
She is married to property entrepreneur Ed Milbank (son of baronet Sir Anthony Milbank), with whom she has a son, Harry.
Showing off her legs in a silk taffeta bespoke skirt and jacket, Natalie accessorises with a Sylvia Fletcher for Lock and Co hat, £865.
Rosie van Cutsem, 29
William reportedly dated Rosie briefly after he split from Kate Middleton in 2007.
William reportedly dated Rosie briefly after he split from Kate Middleton in 2007.
Aristocratic with a hint of the bohemian, she is a passionate equestrienne and a headhunter in the City. Last month, Rosie (nee Ruck Keene) married William van Cutsem, with Wills and Kate among the guests.
With hints of the Great Gatsby, on Saturday she went for a jewelled floral hair slide and mint green flapper-style dress.
Olivia Hunt had a flirtation with the Prince while she was at university in Edinburgh
Rose Farquhar was William's first love when they met at Beaufort Polo Club
Rosie Van Cutsem and Will dated briefly when he split from Kate Middleton
Olivia Hunt, 31
She had a flirtation with Wills when she was at Edinburgh University.
She had a flirtation with Wills when she was at Edinburgh University.
An aspiring literary agent, she and William have many posh mutual friends, such as the van Cutsems. And her best friend Mary Douglas-Home’s father is close to the Queen.
Here Olivia is wearing the same style of Whiteley hat, £119, that Kate is so keen on.
Rose Farquhar, 29
Ravishing Rose was William’s ‘first love’, when they met at Gloucestershire’s Beaufort Polo Club. Youngest daughter of Captain Ian Farquhar, master of the Beaufort Hunt.
Ravishing Rose was William’s ‘first love’, when they met at Gloucestershire’s Beaufort Polo Club. Youngest daughter of Captain Ian Farquhar, master of the Beaufort Hunt.
Rose attended theatre school in New York and is now a singer. Friends say she has a serious new boyfriend, but is keeping it secret.
Her Peony print maxi dress, £575, from Beulah London must have seen a party or two as we spotted a gaping hole!
Bride and breezy: A gust of wind blows Lady Melissa Percy's veil into the air as Chelsy Davy (seen left) and her fellow bridesmaid attempt to keep the bride's gown under control
Big day: Bride Lady Melissa is accompanied by her father the Duke of Northumberland and two bridesmaids - including Prince Harry's ex Chelsy Davy (right) - as she makes her way into St Mary's Church in Alnwick
Bridesmaid Chelsy Davy looked delighted as she walked into the church - despite having to face her ex-boyfriend Prince Harry and his new girlfriend, Cressida Bonas
Don't upstage the bride! The high society wedding was eagerly watched by many Alnwick residents, who turned out in their droves to watch the lavish ceremony
Just get me to the church on time! Lady Melissa Percy makes her way to the church with her father Ralph Percy, the 12th Duke of Northumberland
Beaming: The bride looked ecstatic as she arrived at the church gates and gave enthusiastic hugs to those waiting
Rain can't dampen their spirits! The bride's mother said that the miserable weather had not troubled the couple, who were too excited about their wedding to care
Prince Harry braves the rain, while his girlfriend Cressida Bonas seemed in a sunny mood, laughing out loud after the service
Who has he spotted? Prince Harry, who was among ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy and current love Cressida Bonas, was pictured with raised eyebrows - but who or what had prompted his reaction is unknown
Royal approval: Prince William and his brother's ex-girlfriend, graduate Chelsy Davy, gathered together to applaud the newly weds
Looking dapper: Prince Harry and Prince William are seen arriving for the wedding of Lady Melissa Percy and Thomas van Straubenzee
Pippa's heavily pregnant sister the Duchess of Cambridge was unable to attend - but the younger Middleton still managed to turn heads with a monochrome outfit and hat
Finery: Prince Harry's girlfriend Cressida Bonas, left, wearing a blue and white maxi dress and a sequinned blue jacket, walked into the church with Princess Eugenie, right, who chose a green dress and co-ordinating jacket
Princess Eugenie of York (centre) and Princess Beatrice of York (right) arrive alongside Cressida Bonas, the girlfriend of Prince Harry, for the high society wedding
Support: The Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry could be seen among the party of dapper gents behind groom Thomas van Straubenzee (left) as he arrived
Dressed in their finest: Pippa Middleton, centre, leaves after attending the wedding, accompanied by other glamorous-looking guests
Father-to-be Prince William seemed in high spirits as he waved to the crowds and beamed at other guests, while his pregnant wife stayed at home
Guests: Holly Branson was spring like in a dove-grey and coral combination, while a cheery Tara Palmer Tomkinson chose a striped outfit to attend the big day
Venue: The couple married at St Mary's Church in Alnwick ahead of a lavish reception at the bride's sprawling ancestral home - which has doubled for Hogwarts School in the Harry Potter movies
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