Prince Harry arrived in London, England on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, for a church service commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games, only to announce that his father, King Charles III, had declined a meeting due to his “full program.” Despite the proximity of their events, King Charles remained unable to meet Harry, highlighting the ongoing tension within the royal family.
In a statement to the media, a spokesperson for Prince Harry explained, “Amid the many inquiries and ongoing speculation about whether the Duke will meet with his father during his time in the UK this week, it, unfortunately, will not be possible due to His Majesty’s full program.” The spokesperson noted, “The Duke fully understands his father’s busy schedule and other commitments and hopes to see him soon.”
Harry attended a service at St. Paul’s Cathedral on Wednesday, celebrating a decade of his Invictus Games project. At the same time, King Charles hosted the first garden party of the season at Buckingham Palace. The king, joined by Queen Camilla and other senior royals, mingled with guests while Harry was supported at the service by his uncle, Charles Spencer, the 9th Earl Spencer. The absence of royal family members from Harry’s event underscored the growing rift.
A former courtier with close connections to Buckingham Palace shared with the media that the king made the right decision: “Reconciliation between father and son is certainly important, but any meeting with Harry would have completely overshadowed Charles’ return to work this week, which his office rightly views as the main story.” The courtier added that, despite returning to public duties following a cancer diagnosis, Charles wanted to concentrate on hosting the garden party for over 5,000 guests. “That’s quite miraculous and courageous for a man undergoing cancer treatment. Does he want that overshadowed in the media?”
Royal expert Robert Jobson shed more light on King Charles’ decision not to meet his younger son during an interview with Marca, saying, “People believe that if Harry comes to town, a reconciliation will happen. But there’s been a lot of water under the bridge and a significant betrayal of trust. Rebuilding that takes time, and I don’t think we’re close to that point yet.” Jobson also noted that Harry’s presence could have overshadowed Charles’ return to public life after his diagnosis.
Jobson highlighted Harry’s critical comments about Queen Camilla in his memoir Spare, where he accused her of “sacrificing” him for favorable media coverage and leaving “bodies on the street” to become queen. According to Jobson, these remarks complicated Charles’ decision to meet Harry. A friend of the king and queen noted, “The king has made it clear that he wants to be reconciled with his son,” but Harry’s “outrageous comments about Camilla had put his father in a very awkward position.”
While Prince Harry is still considered an integral part of the royal family, the animosity between him and senior members is evident. King Charles and Prince William were absent from the Invictus Games service despite reports that they had been invited. Harry’s spokesperson reiterated that Harry still understands his father’s packed schedule but remains hopeful for reconciliation.
The strained relationship between the king and his son is further evidenced by sources claiming Harry’s public statement about not meeting his father was “childish” and damaged their trust. Sources revealed to the media that Charles felt Harry’s attack on the royal family and Camilla was “rude, undignified, and childish,” making the royal family cautious about future meetings.
During his London trip, Prince Harry made several remarks celebrating the success of the Invictus Games, which he credits as “a major part of my growth and learning.” Despite the family tensions, he remains focused on his mission. Meghan Markle, Harry’s wife, was expected to join him for the second leg of his trip, where they will visit Nigeria as part of their work for the Invictus Games and on behalf of the Chief of Defense Staff.
Harry’s strained ties with the royal family remain unresolved, and questions remain about whether future reconciliation is possible. His spokesperson’s diplomatic tone emphasized that Harry hopes to meet with his father soon. Until then, he will continue to promote the values and mission of the Invictus Games, drawing attention to the power of resilience and service to others.