Who is Hugh van Cutsem? Childhood friend of Prince Harry who went on to become renowned deer stalker… but pair ‘grew distant’ over his wife’s sarcastic Megxit comments and appearance on Clarkson’s Farm won’t do much to heal the rift

He was a youthful playmate of William and Harry since his late father was one of King Charles‘s oldest friends. 

But now Hugh van Cutsem, who has known the royal brothers all their lives, seems to have grown further and further apart from the Duke of Sussex – even appearing on the show of Harry and Meghan’s nemesis Jeremy Clarkson. 

Clarkson’s notorious article about Meghan saw him reveal how he hated the Duchess of Sussex on ‘a cellular level’ and wanted to see her paraded through the streets naked while people threw excrement at her. 

The rift appears to have started in 2020, when Hugh’s wife Rosie Astor – who he married in 2005 – offended Harry and Meghan by seemingly mocking their announcement that they intend to ‘step back’ as senior members of the Royal Family in 2020. 

‘I am standing back as a senior member of my tax return,’ Rose wrote on social media, ‘because I’d rather drink coffee, see my friends, love my family and do yoga.’ 

She later declined to discuss her comments, explaining: ‘I’m so sorry, I can’t say anything. I’m sure you understand. I’m going to be in so much trouble.’ 

Hugh is particularly close to Prince William, with the royal being a senior usher at Hugh and Rose’s wedding in 2005. 

Prince Harry speaking to his childhood friend Harry van Cutsem at a requiem mass for his late father, a Cambridge pal of Prince Charles, in September 2013

Princes Harry and William smiling with Hugh van Cutsem (left) at the wedding of his brother Edward van Cutsem in November 2004

Jeremy Clarkson was condemned by Prince Harry last year after he wrote a notorious article in The Sun

William is also the godfather to the couple’s daughter Grace, who was a bridesmaid at William and Catherine’s wedding in 2011. 

Grace became known as the little girl who covered her ears on the Buckingham Palace balcony because of the noise of the cheering crowds as the newlyweds kissed.

Hugh and Rose had Meghan and Harry over to dinner at their house in West London after she moved to the UK from America, and also attended the royal couple’s wedding in 2018. 

Harry confirmed his rift with the Van Cutsems in his 2023 memoir, Spare, revealing that Hugh’s mother, Emilie, and one of her four sons had contacted him to voice their fury after his explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey.

The Duke wrote: ‘Several close mates and beloved figures in my life, including one of Hugh and Emilie’s sons, Emilie herself, and even Tiggy [Pettifer, his former nanny], had chastised me for Oprah. How could you reveal such things? About your family?’

Hugh has known the royal family his whole life, with his late father, also named Hugh, being one of Charles’s dearest friends. 

 Hugh van Cutsem on the hit series Clarkson’s Farm with Jeremy Clarkson 

Princes Harry and William have been friends with Hugh van Cutsem (centre) since childhood

Hugh van Cutsem and his wife Rose at Prince Harry and Meghan’s royal wedding in May 2018

Hugh’s wife Rosie offended Harry and Meghan (pictured) by seemingly mocking their announcement that they intend to ‘step back’ as senior members of the Royal Family 

Hugh van Cutsem became a friend of King Charles III during his university days at Cambridge. He went on to be a Life Guards officer and bloodstock breeder. 

His father – Bernard van Cutsem – trained horses for Queen Elizabeth II as a horsebreeder and racehorse trainer.

His son Hugh is now chairman of The British Deer Society – most recently seen on Clarkson’s Farm stalking deer with the star of the Amazon Prime show, Clarkson. 

In 2022, it was reported that Hugh was caught on a speed camera driving an Audi RS6 at 89mph in a 60mph zone. 

He pleaded guilty to exceeding the legal limit on the A1065, a single carriageway road at Ickburgh, at Norfolk Magistrates’ Court. 

The matter was adjourned to April 14 for a disqualification notice under a single justice procedure, the Oxford Mail reported. 

His wife Rose is the daughter of David Astor, the co-founder of Jupiter Asset Management, Classic FM and a former deputy lieutenant of Oxfordshire.