Prince Harry visited London on Wednesday to commemorate the 10th anniversary of his Invictus Games for wounded military veterans, yet no meeting was arranged with his estranged father, King Charles III.
As with his previous visits to the UK since relocating to the United States in 2020, his three-day stay in the British capital has ignited speculation about a potential reconciliation with his family.
A possible end to four years of discord and settling scores was hinted at in February when Harry briefly visited his father after news of his cancer diagnosis surfaced. However, this time around, the palace doors appear firmly closed to him.
A spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex, as Harry is also known, stated on Wednesday that a meeting this week “will not be possible due to His Majesty’s full schedule.”
“The duke is understanding of his father’s commitments and hopes to see him soon,” the spokesperson added.
While Charles, 75, has had a less hectic schedule in recent months due to his cancer treatment, his engagements are gradually resuming as his health improves. On Tuesday, he met Fiji’s Prime Minister at Buckingham Palace, coinciding with Harry’s involvement in an Invictus Games discussion in London’s financial district.
On Wednesday, the king is expected to attend the first garden party of the year at Buckingham Palace and hold his weekly private audience with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Observing that Buckingham Palace is only a short distance from St Paul’s Cathedral, where Charles married Princess Diana, commentators interpreted the lack of a meeting as a snub, particularly as Charles is set to appoint his elder son, Prince William, as colonel-in-chief of Harry’s former regiment.
Former army captain Harry, who served in Afghanistan, has faced criticism in the UK since stepping back from royal duties. However, he remains committed to his philanthropic endeavors, including the Invictus Games.
Despite speculation, no meeting with William is scheduled either, as he has engagements in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. The brothers, once close, are reportedly estranged due to Harry’s public criticisms of royal life.
In the media, Harry has been portrayed as the “party prince” compared to William’s more serious demeanor. However, since marrying Meghan, Harry has faced intensified scrutiny and criticism from the UK press.
Commentators note a deepening rift between Harry and the royal family, with Piers Morgan describing Charles’s decision as a “big regal middle finger” to his son.
