RICHARD EDEN: The real reason that King Charles won’t see Harry, as revealed to me by Palace insiders

There were widespread reports that the Duke of Sussex planned to see his father during this week’s visit to London – and surprise, even shock, when such a meeting did not take place.

As Prince Harry’s newly appointed British spokesperson explained on Tuesday: ‘In response to the many questions and ongoing speculation about whether or not the Duke will meet his father this week while in Britain, it will unfortunately not be possible are because of his The complete program of Your Majesty.

The Duke, he continued, “understands his father’s diary with commitments and various other priorities and hopes to see him soon.”

Richard Eden says: ‘From everything I hear, there will be no rapprochement between the Sussexes and the royal family until Harry and Meghan say sorry for the pain they have caused’

However, friends of King Charles and Queen Camilla with whom I have spoken are not the least bit surprised.

The 75-year-old king has met his youngest son just once since he was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer just over three months ago – and that meeting lasted no more than 30 minutes.

Harry had rushed straight home from his home in California after the announcement of Charles’ illness, but he was soon on his way back to the airport after a quick chat with the King.

Why has His Majesty chosen not to see his youngest son this week?

“He doesn’t need the drama in his life,” one of the friends explained.

“Harry and Meghan have caused him, and the rest of the family, nothing but worry in recent years.”

King Charles has long wanted to use his position to make an impression.

Friends of the king and queen have told The Mail’s Richard Eden that the monarch decided not to meet Harry this week because he “doesn’t need the drama in his life” from a bitter son

He founded the Prince’s Trust in 1976 to help vulnerable young people get their lives on track. He later encouraged traditional architecture and became a passionate advocate for environmental protection – just a few examples of his many interests.

“This may sound strange in some ways, but the cancer diagnosis has given His Majesty even more energy,” says another friend.

Charles is all smiles while attending a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday – the same day Prince Harry was just two miles away at St Paul’s Cathedral

Charles wears top hat and tails at yesterday’s Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace with Camilla

It’s been a bittersweet week for Harry, who returned to the warmth of veterans at the Invictus Games Foundation’s tenth anniversary service at St Paul’s Cathedral – only to be given the cold shoulder by his own father and brother (below in 2014)

“He has obviously waited decades to become king, and realizes that his time may be very limited.”

‘So he’s determined to make as much difference as he can – as quickly as he can.

“Frankly, Harry and Meghan are a painful distraction that he could do without.”

The king returned to his public appearances last week – with a visit to a cancer center – even though he has not yet completed his own treatment.

And the queen gave insight into her husband’s sense of urgency when she told a guest at a Buckingham Palace reception: “I think he was very happy to be away.”

She added tellingly, “I tried to stop him.”

It’s understood the Sussexes have yet to apologize for their very personal and very public criticism of the royal family.

It is said that they continue to insist on this privately she are the ones who deserve an apology.

From everything I hear, there will be no rapprochement between the Sussexes and the Royal Family until Harry and Meghan say sorry for the pain they have caused.

Megan and Harry (seen here with Charles at Trooping The Color in 2018) are now ‘a painful distraction he could do without’

I understand that The King is finding it particularly difficult to forgive the comments Harry made in his explosive memoir Spare – in which the Duke portrayed his stepmother, Queen Camilla, as a ‘villain’ who left him a ‘body on the street’ to express her desire to to rehabilitate its own image.

It was no coincidence that one of the Queen’s closest and most discreet confidants, the Marchioness of Lansdowne, chose last year to speak about the pain Harry’s comments had caused.

“Of course it bothers her, of course it hurts,” Lady Lansdowne said then.

‘Her [Camilla’s] The philosophy is always: ‘Don’t make a big deal of it and it will settle down – least said, quickest mended.’

Until Harry apologizes for that pain — at least privately, if not publicly — meetings with his father could be awkward.