Prince Harry was forced to admit his father was too busy to see him after flying to Britain yesterday.
After weeks of speculation about a reunion, his spokesperson firmly stated that a meeting ‘will not be possible due to His Majesty’s full schedule’.
Harry tried to face the situation courageously, saying he understood his father’s position and “hopes to see him soon.” But the news will have been a crushing blow for the prince, who told US television in February that he hoped Charles’ illness could “reunite” the royal family.
His spokesperson said: ‘In response to many questions and ongoing speculation as to whether or not the Duke will meet his father this week whilst in Britain, this will unfortunately not be possible due to the full schedule of His Majesty. The Duke obviously understands his father’s diary with obligations and various other priorities and hopes to see him soon.’
Some interpreted the use of the words “miscellaneous other priorities” as a thinly veiled attack on King Charles, prioritizing his work over their relationship.
Prince Harry with the Honorable Artillery Company in London
King Charles III leaves Windsor Castle as he heads to Clarence House
But if so, the palace did not respond. Royal aides have repeatedly refused to comment on anything to do with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for fear of sparking another war of words on the other side of the Atlantic.
However, just hours after Harry’s statement, palace officials gleefully 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 cleared him to return to more public work while he continues his cancer treatment.
While Harry was just three miles (or 25 minutes’ drive) away for an engagement in east London yesterday, Charles met the Prime Minister of the Republic of Fiji at Buckingham Palace before retiring to Clarence House.
Today he has further meetings 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 a Privy Council meeting well into the evening.
He is expected tomorrow at an as yet unannounced engagement outside London. It is not believed that Harry was encouraged to make a statement himself as there is little communication between the palace and its people.
Prince Harry on stage at an Invictus Games event
But it undoubtedly became clear that the continued speculation about family relationships would continue to overshadow the work he came here to do.
The 39-year-old prince, who is still fifth in line to the throne despite quitting his royal duties and Britain, is in London for a number of days for engagements around the Paralympic-style Invictus Games, which he will be hosting in Established in 2014 for injured military personnel. .
Yesterday he attended an event to commemorate the legacy of the games and today he will give a talk at a service at St Paul’s Cathedral to mark the tenth anniversary of the event. Media close to the Sussexes had suggested he also ‘ardently’ wanted to see his father while he was here.
Harry has traveled alone, apart from his personal guards, after claiming he did not feel safe bringing his family to Britain, amid an ongoing row with the Home Office following the decision to ban him from the 24 hour protection from the Metropolitan Police. he left Britain.
He managed to fly into the country undetected and his arrival only came to light when media favorable to the Sussexes were tipped off that he was attending a private panel discussion with TV presenter Louise Minchin of the Honorable Artillery Company.
Sources said he would have had further sessions in the afternoon – including a meeting with business leader Sir Keith Mills, the former chairman of Invictus Games – followed by a private dinner.
It has not been confirmed whether he came in on a commercial scheduled flight or flew on a private jet from his home in California, or even where he is staying.
However, it is not believed to be in a royal residence. Harry has no official home in the country after he was asked to leave Frogmore, his and Meghan’s Windsor home.
It is believed that he stayed in hotels or with friends during his occasional visits.
According to reports, he plans to stay in Britain until tomorrow before flying to Nigeria, where he will meet his wife for a quasi-royal tour, ostensibly to also raise awareness of the Invictus Games.
There are no plans for him to meet his estranged brother, Prince William, who is focusing on his wife, Catherine, Princess of Wales, who is herself undergoing preventive chemotherapy for cancer and recovering from serious abdominal surgery in January. William will also undertake an investiture today and will fly to Cornwall tomorrow for further official engagements.
Harry had not seen his father in person for 17 months before insisting he fly to London in February after news of his cancer diagnosis was publicly announced.
The king, who had been in London undergoing treatment for his 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 is causing him ‘great pain’, he is determined to put it aside for the time being. .
It is understood there is still widespread family anger over the fear that many believe Harry caused the late Queen in her final years, not to mention the insults leveled by relatives 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 demands for an apology for the way he believes he and Meghan were treated.