‘Timing is everything’: Raised eyebrows as Buckingham Palace reveals Charles will make William Colonel in Chief of Prince Harry’s old regiment at joint ceremony next week – hours after King said he was too busy to see Duke during his UK Invictus visit

King Charles’ timing raised some eyebrows yesterday after he delivered two blows to Prince Harry within hours.

Last night, Buckingham Palace announced that Prince William and his father would attend a joint engagement next week, during which the heir would be appointed colonel-in-chief of the Army Air Corps.

Before Prince Harry’s decision to step back from royal life four years ago, it was always thought that he would take on the role that would see him take charge of the regiment with which he toured Afghanistan until 2014.

The announcement that the king would pass the role he held for 31 years to his eldest son came just two hours after he said he was too busy to see his youngest son.

‘Timing is everything,’ said one royal insider, while another said the monarch’s decision not to see the Duke of Sussex during a whistle-stop visit to Britain – despite being just three miles away – was ‘overall if a disapproval will be experienced’.

The Duke of Sussex flew to London from California yesterday as he celebrates the tenth anniversary of his Invictus Games, but the King’s busy schedule prevented him from meeting his father.

Harry’s spokesperson confirmed that it was “sadly not possible” for the pair to meet “due to His Majesty’s full schedule” as he returns to public duties after undergoing treatment for cancer.

After much speculation about whether the Duke would drop by to visit his father, who he last saw in February following his shock diagnosis, Harry’s spokesperson confirmed there was no time for a reunion.

“In response to the many questions and ongoing speculation as to whether or not The Duke will meet his father this week while in Britain, this will unfortunately not be possible due to His Majesty’s full schedule,” said he.

‘The Duke obviously understands his father’s diary with obligations and various other priorities and hopes to see him soon.’

Harry had been with the Honorable Artillery Company in London and had stood on a podium during a discussion called Realizing Global Community.

His father was just down the road at Clarence House before holding an audience at nearby Buckingham Palace with Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka.

Instead of catching up with his estranged father, the Duke enjoyed dinner with City financier Guy Monson last night.

“Regardless of the logistics, this will be widely perceived as a slight,” royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told MailOnline.

‘This is one of the most public conflicts in the world. If it were handled privately, without so much press speculation, it would have a better chance of being resolved.”

Echoing the same sentiment, former BBC Royal correspondent Michael Cole added: ‘It’s quite a stupidity. That the king does not see his youngest son, Prince Harry, even though the two men are only two miles apart tomorrow afternoon, gives an indication of the depth of the rift.

‘The prodigal son is not welcome, at least not for a while. In royal terms, this is great medicine. Prince Harry will no doubt see it for what it is: the clearest possible indication of the pain that has been caused.

‘There can be no misunderstanding: this is a royal flea in the ear for the fifth in line to the throne. Actions have consequences, but rarely are they played out as grimly as here.

“Even Prince Harry, never the sharpest sword in the Household Cavalry, will no doubt have gotten the message and many people will say: ‘It’s about time too’.”

Just two hours after the revelation that Charles and Harry would not meet, Buckingham Palace announced Prince William’s new role.

A statement read: ‘At the Army Aviation Center in Middle Wallop, His Majesty The King will officially hand over the role of Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps to His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales.

‘In August 2023, following His Majesty’s accession, The King was pleased to announce military appointments, including that the Prince of Wales would become Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps.

‘The role was previously held by His Majesty the King as Prince of Wales for 31 years.’

During the ceremony, Prince William will receive a briefing from Colonel Commandant Lieutenant General Sir Nicholar Borton before attending a training session.

William, who flew for the Air Ambulance, will also take to the skies and pilot the Apache for a flight.

Today, Prince Harry will deliver a talk at a thanksgiving service at St Paul’s Cathedral, marking a decade since the opening match in London in 2014.

Organizers had said there was no confirmation that other royals would attend, or whether Harry’s wife Meghan Markle or children Archie and Lilibet would also be in Britain.

But Harry arrived in London alone today and is expected to join the Duchess on a tour to Nigeria later this week, while Meghan will fly there on her own from the US.

And Harry is not expected to see his brother Prince William, who is due to leave the capital on Thursday and Friday, or his sister-in-law Kate Middleton whose cancer treatment continues after she announced her diagnosis in March.