There’s a saying that ‘men come and go, but friendship lasts a lifetime’.
Unfortunately for socialite Harriet Williams, she has lost both her husband and her best friend in the space of a year – and it’s the talk of the eastern suburbs.
She had been BFFs with fellow ‘It’ girl Mel Coates for years but Harriet’s recent split from her husband Andy El Bayeh has suddenly ended their friendship.
Mel had nothing to do with the breakdown of the marriage. But we’ve heard she sided with the groom in the divorce, which led to an irreconcilable falling-out with Harriet.
When couples split, friends often take sides – but what makes this compelling is how close Mel and Harriet were before their rift.
And the fact Mel officiated at Harriet and Andy’s $1million wedding in March 2022.
Harriet Williams (left) and Mel Coates (right) used to be best friends – but our source says they had a falling-out after Harriet split from her husband Andy El Bayeh last year. (The two women are pictured on Harriet’s wedding day in March 2022)
Publicist Andy and kinesiologist Harriet abruptly ended their six-year relationship in August last year during a European holiday.
The popular eastern suburbs couple had been husband and wife for just two years.
Their split rocked Sydney’s elite social set at the time, as their idyllic Instagram snaps from recent travels around Greece and Italy showed no sign of trouble in paradise.
Two weeks before their split hit the headlines, Andy had posted a loved-up snap with Harriet as they attended the Mykonos wedding of their friends Mario Kalpou and Danielle Louise.
No reason for the separation was given.
As for Harriet’s friendship with Mel, a well-placed insider tells us the former best friends are done. Indeed, the once-inseparable duo have unfollowed each other on Instagram. However, Mel does still follow Andy.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted both women for comment.
Andy is the chief creative officer and founder of creative agency Example, while Harriet is a kinesiologist at Inner Remedy and comes from a wealthy Sydney family.
When couples split, friends often take sides – but what makes this compelling is how close Mel and Harriet were before their rift… and the fact Mel officiated at Harriet and Andy’s wedding
Publicist Andy and kinesiologist Harriet (pictured together in happier times) abruptly ended their six-year relationship in August last year during a European holiday
Andy, who used to work as Merivale’s Director of Marketing, had been dating Harriet for four years before they tied the knot.
He launched an elaborate scheme to propose to Harriet, disguising his plan as his 31st birthday bash before turning the event into an engagement party.
His dog Max was involved in the romantic moment after Andy dressed the pooch in a collar embroidered with the all-important question: Will you marry me?
‘I completely lost my composure,’ Harriet previously told Vogue Australia of the proposal.
The couple then tied the knot in a lavish three-day forest wedding in the Southern Highlands in March 2022, in a ceremony which reportedly set them back a million dollars.
The event kicked off with welcome drinks held in the historic halls of Osborn House as their loved ones gathered to celebrate with them.
The couple then tied the knot on the grounds of the Wollumbi Estate, with Andy and Harriet exchanging vows underneath a picture-perfect forest canopy.
Their split rocked Sydney’s elite social set at the time, as their idyllic Instagram snaps from recent travels around Greece and Italy showed no sign of trouble in paradise
Harriet walked down the aisle to Sebastien Tellier’s La Ritournelle, performed by a 20-piece orchestra led by conductor Dan Fontaine, in what she later described as a ‘surreal’ and ‘magical’ moment.
‘The styling of the wedding was inspired by the magic of nature,’ Harriet told Vogue. ‘It was all about the florals and forest.’
Harriet sported an array of luxury bridal gowns for the 72-hour extravaganza, including a Vivienne Westwood dress for the welcome drinks.
She sported a robe from Olivia von Halle on the morning of her wedding before slipping into a custom gown designed by Marina Didovich and Harriet herself.
Harriet, who used to be a stylist, sported another two evening gowns for the reception: a ’40s-style beaded dress by Steven Khalil and a blue dress by Paolo Sebastian.
The guest list included influencer Ruby Tuesday Matthews, Nadia Fairfax, TV personality Renee Bargh, DJ Jordy Burrows and model Tash Oakley.
Harriet’s mother is Edeltraud Franziska Grill, the first wife of John Grill, the chief executive of engineering giant WorleyParsons, who is worth a reported $971million.
They divorced in February 2008 and Edeltraud reportedly received eight million Worley shares in the settlement.
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