Hogwarts castle heiress divorces Princess Charlotte's godfather because of his 'unreasonable behaviour' - less than three years after William and Harry were ushers at their wedding

  • Thomas van Straubenzee, 33, married Lady Melissa Percy, 28, in 2013
  • Princes William and Harry were ushers and Chelsy Davy was a bridesmaid
  • But the couple separated last October and were today granted a divorce
  • Court papers note Mr van Straubenzee's 'unreasonable behaviour'

The marriage of one of Princess Charlotte's godfathers has ended less than three years after he tied the knot in a lavish ceremony dubbed the 'society wedding of the year'.

Thomas van Straubenzee, 33, who has known the Duke of Cambridge since prep school, married Lady Melissa Percy, the youngest daughter of the Duke of Northumberland, in Northumbria in 2013.

Princes William and Harry were both ushers at the ceremony while Chelsy Davy, Prince Harry's ex-girlfriend, was a bridesmaid.

Wedding of the year: Thomas van Straubenzee, 33, who has known the Duke of Cambridge since prep school, married Lady Melissa Percy, the youngest daughter of the Duke of Northumberland, in Northumbria in 2013

Wedding of the year: Thomas van Straubenzee, 33, who has known the Duke of Cambridge since prep school, married Lady Melissa Percy, the youngest daughter of the Duke of Northumberland, in Northumbria in 2013

Marriage breakdown: Mrs van Straubenzee, pictured with her husband on their wedding day, filed for a divorce, citing his 'unreasonable behaviour'
Mr van Straubenzee, who is Princess Charlotte's godfather

Marriage breakdown: Mrs van Straubenzee, pictured with her husband on their wedding day, filed for a divorce, citing his 'unreasonable behaviour'. Pictured right, Mr van Straubenzee, who is Princess Charlotte's godfather

Celebration: Prince William, left, stands next to bridesmaid Chelsy Davy to applaud the newlyweds

Celebration: Prince William, left, stands next to bridesmaid Chelsy Davy to applaud the newlyweds

The Duchess of Cambridge was heavily pregnant with Prince George and so could not attend but her sister Pippa, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie and Prince Harry's Cressida Bonas, Prince Harry's then girlfriend, all celebrated the nuptials at Alnick Castle, the bride's ancestral home.

But court papers reveal the couple parted ways in October last year, just months after their second anniversary, and were today granted a divorce at the Central Family Court, in London.

Mrs van Straubenzee, 28, filed for a decree nisi  on the grounds of her husband's 'unreasonable behaviour'. The couple were not present when it was granted by District Judge Anne Aitken. 

Among the court papers made public was a sworn statement signed by Mrs van Straubenzee in December, which said that they had separated two months earlier. 

Prince Harry at Mr van Straubenzee's wedding
Prince William at Mr van Straubenzee's wedding

Close: Princes William and Harry were both ushers at the 2013 ceremony. Pictured, at the wedding 

Daddy's girl: The bride with her father, the 12th Earl of Northumberland, and bridesmaid Chelsy Davy, right

Daddy's girl: The bride with her father, the 12th Earl of Northumberland, and bridesmaid Chelsy Davy, right

The paperwork stated that a judge found that Mrs van Straubenzee was 'entitled to a decree of divorce, the marriage having irretrievably broken down, the facts found proved being the respondent's unreasonable behaviour'. 

Mr Straubenzee, a property consultant, has known William since both attended Ludgrove prep school in Berkshire, and he accompanied the Prince to New Zealand on his gap year.

Known simply as 'Van' to his friends, he is a key figure in the Duke and Duchess's inner circle and was one of five people named Princess Charlotte's godparent.

Glittering guestlist: Cressida Bonas
Pippa Middleton at the ceremony

Glittering guestlist: Cressida Bonas, left, and Pippa Middleton, right, both made the journey to Northumbria 

He worked at Strutt & Parker estate agents, and as a property finder, and in 2012 set up VanHan, a London estate agency, which has offices in London, Dubai, Moscow and Hong Kong.

Mr van Straubenzee's friendship with both William and Harry made headlines in 2011 when he was mugged at knifepoint in Battersea while talking on the phone to Harry, and concerned the Prince drove across town to check on him. 

The princes are also patrons of a memorial fund dedicated to Tom's brother Henry, who was killed in a car crash in 2002.

Childhood friend: Mr Straubenzee, a property consultant, has known William since both attended Ludgrove prep school in Berkshire. Pictured above, the Cambridges arrive for the christening of Princess Charlotte

Childhood friend: Mr Straubenzee, a property consultant, has known William since both attended Ludgrove prep school in Berkshire. Pictured above, the Cambridges arrive for the christening of Princess Charlotte

Trusted: Mr van Straubenzee is one of Princess Charlotte's (pictured in October) five godparents

Trusted: Mr van Straubenzee is one of Princess Charlotte's (pictured in October) five godparents

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