Thomas van Straubenzee and Lady Melissa Percy have divorced, less than three years after tying the knot. Lady Melissa, the youngest daughter of the Duke of Northumberland, was granted a decree nisi in just a few minutes at the Central Family Court in London on Wednesday.Official court documents show that a judge found Lady Melissa was "entitled to a decree of divorce, the marriage having irretrievably broken down, the facts found proved being the respondent's unreasonable behaviour".
© Photo: Getty ImagesThomas van Straubenzee and Lady Melissa Percy have divorced
Thomas is a childhood friend of Prince William – the boys met as young boys at Ludgrove Prep School - and he was one of five godparents at Princess Charlotte's christening in the church of St Mary Magdalene in Sandringham, Norfolk, last July.The property consultant, 33, tied the knot with Lady Melissa in June 2013 at St Michael's Church in Alnwick, Northumberland. The ceremony was conducted by the Bishop of Newcastle, the Right Reverend Martin Wharton, and afterwards the 500 guests enjoyed a reception, dinner and fireworks at Alnwick Castle – the Percy family's home, which doubled for Hogwarts in the Harry Potter films.
© Photo: Getty ImagesThomas is a close friend of Prince William, and godfather to his daughter Charlotte
The wedding brought together a number of guests who attended the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's nuptials in April 2011. Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, Pippa Middleton and Tara Palmer-Tomkinson all attended the ceremony, while Prince Harry's ex-girlfriend Chelsea Davy acted as a bridesmaid.Simply known as Van to his friends, Thomas is a key figure in William and Harry's inner circle. He accompanied William on his first official overseas tour to New Zealand, and the two princes are also patrons of a memorial fund dedicated to Thomas' brother Henry, who was killed in a car crash in 2002.
