Prince Harry Reportedly Felt 'Deeply Stung' By King Charles' 'Snub' During His UK Trip
By Favour Adegoke on May 12, 2024 at 3:00 PM EDT
Prince Harry recently visited the UK for a three-day trip to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Invictus Games.
Harry planned to see his father, King Charles III, during his visit, but unfortunately, he was "snubbed" due to the King's busy schedule.
Now, according to a report, sources close to the Duke of Sussex have revealed that the snub upset Harry because he gave notice long before the trip.
Prince Harry Was 'Deeply Stung' By King Charles 'Snubbing' Him In The UK
Harry's alleged friends revealed that the prince was "deeply stung" by his father, King Charles, who decided not to see him during his brief trip to the UK.
Since Harry confirmed his three-day trip to the UK, there has been anticipation of a reunion between him and Charles.
Harry's trip was to celebrate the tenth anniversary of his Invictus Games program, and Charles was having a picnic close by. However, after both events concluded, Harry was told that Charles was "too busy" to see him.
According to the DailyMail, sources close to Harry claim that the Duke notified the palace of his intention to see his father during his London stay. However, sources at the Palace have refuted this claim, stating that Harry never gave them a notification.
Royal protocol for security also shared that Harry is required to give a 28-day notice to the King and the Home Office.
King Charles Was 'Too Busy' To See His Second Son
A rep for Harry claimed that Charles skipped a meeting with his son because he was too busy.
They said, "It unfortunately will not be possible due to His Majesty's full programme. The Duke is of course understanding of his father's diary commitments and various other priorities and hopes to see him soon."
Sources in Harry's camp reacted to the news, saying that the snub upset the prince, who was anticipating the visit. One friend told The Times, "It surprises me a lot. I was fully expecting them to meet. I know that's what he wanted to happen and I don't know when he's back."
Charles' schedule for the week Harry was in town included the Buckingham Palace party and his regular weekly audience with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, which was held the same day as the Invictus Thanksgiving.
The King also had a scheduled visit to a military barracks to greet soldiers on Thursday.
Royal Sources And Prince Harry's Friends Commented On The Snub
Sources at the palace insisted that Harry never sent a request to see Charles and also never invited the King to attend the Invictus ceremony. The ceremony was held at a church just a few miles from Buckingham Palace, where Charles was attending the garden party.
One source said, "While he [Charles] was hardly going to roll out the red carpet the moment this Invictus trip was announced, with doctors advising him to focus on his treatment and recovery, the idea that he refused to find space in his diary… well, let's say recollections may vary once again."
A friend of the Duke of Sussex responded to this particular point, insisting that Charles could also reach out. They said, "Even if they didn't get a request, which I don't believe, could His Majesty not have made a request to see his son? It was widely known he was coming."
Prince Harry Wants To Spend More Time With His Family
After Buckingham Palace confirmed Charles' cancer diagnosis to the world in February, Harry made a quick trip to the UK to see the monarch.
The Duke has expressed his desire to spend more time with his family, and the trip to the UK was a perfect opportunity.
Many Royal sources were also sure that Charles and Harry would take the opportunity to bridge some gaps in the family, and were shocked by the snub.
Expert Richard Palmer said, "It's surprising if the King and Harry are not meeting at all and perhaps a sign of how much bridge-building still needs to be done."
Palmer added, "There's been much media speculation that father and son would meet. While that always looked like guessing, I'd have guessed they would meet too."
The Duke Was 'In Tears' After His Military Role Was Given To Prince William
Charles' snub of Harry came around the same time he decided to bestow a new honor upon Prince William, making him the colonel-in-chief of the Army Air Corps, despite the Duke's previous service with the unit in Afghanistan.
According to royal expert Tom Quinn, Harry was emotional upon learning of the news, which coincided with his return to London for the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games.
While speaking to The Mirror, Quinn noted that the timing was deliberate: "King Charles' announcement… is a real kick in the teeth for the son who always felt marginalized and underrated. He is said to have been in tears when he heard."
"What makes it much worse is that the role is being given to the very man who Harry sees as the cause of so many of his problems – his brother," Quinn added.