Prince Harry ‘DIDN’T meet with dad Charles before King jetted off on Italy visit’ as he’s seen in UK for court fight
PRINCE Harry didn’t meet with his dad King Charles after landing in Britain, it is understood.
It was ‘not thought possible’ for the King to meet with his son before jetting off to Italy.
The Duke of Sussex, 40, flew into the UK on Sunday ahead of his High Court appearance in London this morning.
His arrival came just hours before Charles, 76, flew to Italy with Queen Camilla, for four days of official engagements.
There was growing speculation over whether the Duke would see his father on the trip.
The last time the pair saw each other was when Harry rushed over last February when the Monarch announced his cancer diagnosis.
It is now understood the father and son did not meet before the King travelled to his State Visit.
British Ambassador to Italy Edward Llewellyn said of Charles’ trip: “Their visit will strengthen the closeness between our nations.
“Their love for things Italians cherish — culture, food, heritage — resonate very deeply here.”
Meanwhile, in London, Harry arrived at the High Court for an appeal after he lost a bid for publicly-funded security while in the UK.
The Duke of Sussex brought a case against the Home Office and the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec).
Harry claimed he was “singled out” after his round-the-clock royal protection was stripped in the wake of Megxit.
He also attempted to sue the Home Office because it refused to spend taxpayers’ money on bodyguards after he left the Royal Family.
But in February last year, High Court judge Sir Peter Lane rejected the duke’s case and ruled Ravec’s approach was not irrational nor procedurally unfair.
Harry has now returned to the court in London for a two-day appeal hearing against the ruling.
He refused to answer when asked “did you speak to your dad?” after King Charles flew to Italy with Camilla for a state visit.
His arrival came on the day Meghan Markle launched her first podcast episode where she opened up about her scary health battles.
He and Meghan were stripped of their round-the-clock protection when they stepped back from royal duties in 2020.
Harry moaned he was unable to return with his children Meghan, Archie and Lilibet, “because it is too dangerous”.
He was allowed security when he stayed at royal residences or attended royal events but had to fend for himself if he wanted to see friends.
Harry’s lawyers argued he was “singled out” and treated “less favourably” in the decision.
Ravec claimed that allowing Harry to pay for his own protective security would be contrary to the public interest and undermine public confidence in the Met Police.
They also said the decision could not be reconciled with rules that expressly permit charging for certain police services.
While Home Office lawyers argued he was no longer part of a group of people whose “security position” was under regular review by Ravec.
But they said the body was entitled to conclude the duke’s protection should be “bespoke” and considered on a “case-by-case” basis.
What level of security protection are working royals entitled to?
A HANDFUL of working members of the Royal Family have 24/7 protection – but others are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Senior officers are assigned to specific members of the household and are supported by others, one expert told The Sun.
He claimed there will always be a minimum of one protection officer with a member of the Royal Family, but the protection team is increased according to threat and risk.
King Charles, Queen Camilla and the Wales’ family have round-the-clock protection and the monarch also has a corridor officer based outside his bedroom door, the expert said.
The likes of Princess Anne, Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex are given protection when they are taking part in official engagements – but do not have taxpayer-funded security at their homes.
Prince Andrew had his taxpayer-funded security removed following the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
His daughters Princess Beatrice and Prince Eugenie are said to not have funded security as they are not full-time working royals – and are employed elsewhere.
Robert Jobson, an award-winning royal author, explained: “According to a 1917 Letters of Patent issued by King George V, the title of HRH Prince or Princess is passed to ‘The grandchildren of the sons of any such sovereign in the direct male line (save only the eldest living son of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales) shall have and enjoy in all occasions the style and title enjoyed by the children of dukes of this realm.
“Both Harry and Meghan know this. Archie, on the other hand, did not qualify to become a prince automatically.
“In 2012, Queen Elizabeth II issued a Letters Patent to expand on a previous decree that granted such a title only to the eldest son of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales.”
In his ruling in February, Sir Peter Lane said there had not been any “unlawfulness” in the call to pull Harry’s security.
Whilst there may have been hopes Harry would see the King on his trip, the last time they saw each other was in February last year.
When shocking news of King Charles’ cancer diagnosis rocked the world, the Duke immediately made a 24-hour transatlantic dash to visit.
The father and son had a brief 30 minute meeting, before Harry returned to the US.
Royal fans and experts alike speculated the royal health battles, including Princess Kate’s cancer treatment, could finally see their bitter rift mended.
But, shortly after the fleeting reunion, Harry raised eyebrows when he spoke on a Good Morning America interview.
The conversation only piled onto existing fears the Sussexes can’t be trusted to keep private meetings and conversations away from the press.
Hopes of familial reconciliation were once again squashed when Harry came to the UK to mark the 10th anniversary of his Invictus Games.
Despite being just a few miles away from King Charles, who was hosting a Buckingham Palace Garden Party, the pair failed to meet.
Controversy shrouded the trip after the duke’s spokesperson said His Majesty’s schedule was “too busy” to meet his son.
But, palace insiders at the time claimed Charles had offered Harry the opportunity to stay at a royal residence – which was snubbed.
The 40-year-old spent three nights in London on his whistle-stop tour.
Harry was said to have made several requests for a meeting and blamed the King’s “full programme” when it didn’t happen.
But Charles did agree to put Harry up at a secret royal residence knowing he does not have a UK base, according to The Telegraph.
And Harry said no because it would leave him staying in a “visible location with public entrance and exit points and no police protection”, it has been claimed.
Harry ended up staying in a hotel, which he could leave unnoticed.
This is despite any royal residence having armed guards at entry and exit points, which any London hotel wouldn’t have.
It was not reported where exactly Prince Harry was offered a room, but it is thought St James’ Palace is a strong contender.
It’s directly opposite Clarence house where the King stays when he’s in London.
A spokesman for Prince Harry said at the time: “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.”
And the Duke only spent 20 hours in London for the King’s Coronation in May 2023.
The Duke spent between 30 and 40 minutes with Charles at Clarence House before the Monarch departed for Sandringham via helicopter.