Prince Harry recently visited the United Kingdom as part of his Invictus Games commitments. Despite being in the same city, he was unable to meet with his estranged family due to the busy schedules of King Charles and Prince William.
Earlier reports suggested that the monarch declined to meet with his youngest son, but palace officials insisted that the King wanted to meet Harry but was unable to do so owing to a tremendous media frenzy. According to recent stories, he even offered the duke a royal house, which he declined.
The King “agreed to allow his estranged son to stay at a royal residence,” but the request was turned down
The 39-year-old celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games by greeting the supportive crowd at St. Paul’s Cathedral with chants of “We love you, Harry.” None of the royals attended since the King was hosting a tea garden party at Buckingham Palace.
According to sources, the King “agreed to allow his estranged son to stay at a royal residence,” but the request was turned down. Instead, Harry is said to have opted for a hotel.
Insiders close to the monarch informed The Sunday Times that a more private meeting between the King and Harry was possible if he had not declined the palace stay.
They stated that a formal meeting between the two might have been readily arranged without attracting heavy media attention. People close to the duke, however, emphasized that Harry was aware of the King’s hectic schedule and made efforts to speak with his ailing father before the trip. However, some members of the royal family claim that the Duke never requested to meet with his father or invited him to the games.
King Charles, who had briefly resumed his royal duties, did want to meet Harry, according to a close friend, contradicting claims that he shunned his son and preferred honoring William over him. The insider noted that, while the King is understandably “wary” of visits with Harry because of the “media attention they attract,” he did consent “to see his son at the most vulnerable moment of his illness [back in February] and at very short notice.”
In an interview with the Sun, royal analyst Robert Jobson stated, “Harry effectively took it by himself to come to see his dad when he said that he had been diagnosed with cancer that would be seen by as many as a good thing.”
“But at the time I think the King didn’t want all the media circus that would accompany Harry’s arrival.”