Charles won’t want to be used as a PR tool to boost Harry’s image on UK visit – no wonder he ‘snubbed’ him, expert says
KING Charles has “snubbed” Prince Harry during his whistle-stop UK trip as he fears he would be used as a PR tool to boost Harry’s image, an expert has claimed.
A spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex today said he won’t see his father this week due to the monarch’s “full programme”.
They said: “It unfortunately will not be possible due to His Majesty’s full programme.
“The Duke of course is understanding of his father’s diary of commitments and various other priorities and hopes to see him soon.”
The prince has jetted all the way from California for a service at St Paul’s Cathedral to mark the 10th anniversary of his Invictus Games.
But he won’t see it father – and royal author Ingrid Seward believes she knows why.
Speaking to The Sun, she explained: “He’s the father of Harry. It would look nice if they met.
“He probably he doesn’t want it to be used as a PR opportunity.
“Or maybe Harry’s being the one being difficult and we we just don’t know.
“Or maybe they’ve just said, Look, it’s not gonna work this time, but you would think Harry would be very, very keen to see his father.
“We don’t know when he’s gonna be over here again. But you know, maybe he’ll get a bit of praise from his father, for you know, for at least having done something successfully.”
Harry and Charles last reunited at Clarence House in February for their first face-to-face meeting in 16 months.
The prince flew to the UK alone without Meghan or their children Archie and Lilibet.
But Meghan will join Harry on his visit to Nigeria later this week, it’s understood.
It’s understood Harry will not see his brother Prince William – but had been “keen” to see his dad while visiting.
Charles, 75, resumed public duties last week for the first time since beginning cancer treatment.
He is now expected to attend the year’s first Buckingham Palace garden party.
William has been stung by his brother’s attacks and has not spoken to Harry since Queen Elizabeth’s funeral.
Harry launched the Invictus Games in 2014 as a sports contest for injured military veterans.
At the gathering today he paid tribute to competitors’ “commitment, enthusiasm and belief”.
Harry & the King can't play happy families with such huge public attention, says The Sun's Matt Wilkinson
By Matt Wilkinson, Royal Editor
Prince Harry is in London but he won’t meet his father The King.
The Duke of Sussex arrived from LA alone without Meghan or their children for a busy diary of events marking 10 years of his Invictus Games.
Before setting off from California it is understood Harry was said to have been “keen’ to see the King for only the second time since his cancer diagnosis.
It is rather telling that confirmation there will be no meeting has come from the Office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex rather than Buckingham Palace.
His team say “it unfortunately will not be possible due to His Majesty’s full program”.
They add: “The Duke of course is understanding of his father’s diary of commitments and various other priorities and hopes to see him soon.”
Now, the word that jumps out is “priorities”.
The King, we understand, is busy as he returns to public duty.
For instance, on Tuesday while Harry was in London the King was carrying out his constitutional duty and meeting the Prime Minister of Fiji at the palace.
He is also set to host a palace garden party and weekly audience with the Prime Minister on Wednesday.
And Harry’s diary is packed full for three days with Invictus. However, they will be at times just two miles apart and risk even driving past each other on London’s roads.
Some observers may see this as “sad” that father and son cannot find time.
Others may say that it’s understandable as both have work commitments and “priorities”.
But maybe there has just been too much water under the bridge for father and son to play happy families amid such huge public attention.
In the programme for the summit, he writes: “It has been an honour to watch the Invictus Games Foundation grow over the years.
“It began as a vision to pay tribute to the courage and resilience of wounded, injured, and sick service personnel and veterans.
“It has now flourished into an international organisation built on hope, strength, and unity.”
