Prince Harry was forced to admit his father was too busy to see him after flying to the UK yesterday.
After weeks of speculation about a meeting, his spokesperson stiffly announced that a meeting “would not be possible due to Her Majesty’s full schedule.”
Harry tried to be brave about the situation, saying he understood his father’s position and “hoped to see him soon.” But the news came as a blow to the prince, who told US television in February that he hoped Charles’ illness could “reunify” the royal family.
His spokesperson said: “In response to numerous inquiries and continued speculation about whether or not the Duke will meet his father during his stay in the UK this week, this will unfortunately not be possible in due to His Majesty’s complete program. The Duke of course understands his father’s log of commitments and various other priorities and hopes to see him soon.
Some interpreted the use of the words “various other priorities” as a thinly veiled attack on King Charles, who prioritized his work over their relationship.
Prince Harry at the Honorable Artillery Company in London
King Charles III leaves Windsor Castle as he heads towards Clarence House
But if that was the case, the palace did not react. Indeed, royal collaborators have repeatedly refused to comment on anything concerning the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, fearing to trigger yet another war of words across the Atlantic.
However, just hours after Harry’s statement, palace officials blithely announced a new joint engagement for Charles and his eldest son William.
It is one of dozens of official engagements planned for the 75-year-old monarch in the coming months after his doctors gave him the green light to undertake more public work again while continuing his treatment for the cancer.
While Harry was just three miles away – a 25-minute drive – yesterday during an engagement in east London, Charles met the Prime Minister of the Republic of Fiji at Buckingham Palace, before heading pick up at Clarence House.
Today he has meetings again at Buckingham Palace in the morning before attending the first royal garden party of the season in the afternoon, followed by his weekly audience with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and of a Privy Council meeting late in the evening.
Tomorrow he is expected for a yet-to-be-announced engagement outside London. Harry is not believed to have been encouraged to issue a statement himself as there is little communication between the palace and his people.
Prince Harry on stage at an Invictus Games event
But it undoubtedly became clear that persistent speculation about family relationships would continue to overshadow the work he came here to do.
The 39-year-old prince, who remains fifth in line to the throne despite stepping down from royal and UK duties, is in London for several days for engagements centered on the Paralympic-style Invictus Games, which he founded in 2014 for injured military personnel. .
Yesterday he attended an event marking the legacy of the games and today he will give a reading at a service at St Paul’s Cathedral to mark the tenth anniversary of the event. Media close to the Sussexes had suggested he was also “very keen” to see his father while he was here.
Harry traveled alone, apart from his personal security guards, after claiming he did not feel safe taking his family to the UK amid an ongoing row with the Home Office following his decision to strip him of 24-hour protection by the Metropolitan Police when he left Britain.
He managed to enter the country unnoticed and his arrival was only revealed when pro-Sussex media were informed that he was attending a private roundtable with TV presenter Louise Minchin at the Honorable Artillery Company.
According to sources, he had further sessions in the afternoon – including a meeting with business boss Sir Keith Mills, the former chairman of the Invictus Games – followed by a private dinner.
It has not been confirmed whether he arrived on a scheduled commercial flight or took a private jet from his home in California, or even where he is staying.
However, it does not appear to be a royal residence. Harry has no official home in the country after being asked to leave Frogmore, his and Meghan’s home in Windsor.
He would have stayed in hotels or with friends during his occasional visits.
According to reports, he plans to stay in the UK until tomorrow before flying to Nigeria where he will reunite with his wife for a quasi-royal tour, apparently to also mark the Invictus Games.
He is not scheduled to meet his estranged brother, Prince William, who is focusing on his wife, Catherine, Princess of Wales, who herself is undergoing preventative chemotherapy for cancer and recovering from a serious operation abdominal in January. William is also due to undertake an investiture today and will fly to Cornwall tomorrow for other official engagements.
Harry had not seen his father in person for 17 months before insisting he would fly to London in February after his cancer diagnosis was publicly announced.
The king, who was in London undergoing treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer, was about to leave to recuperate at Sandringham and was only able to see him for about half an hour.
Charles’ decision to focus on his health and work was predicted by the Mail in November when it was revealed that although the subject of Harry caused him “great pain”, he was determined to put him aside. side, for now. .
It is understood that there is still widespread family anger over the anguish many believe Harry caused the late Queen in her final years, not to mention the insults leveled at family members, including the Princess of Wales and Queen Camilla.
It was also revealed that Charles was determined to stick to his guns and reject his son’s demand for an apology over how he believes he and Meghan were treated.
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