King Charles III appears to have left Prince Harry heartbroken with his decision to prioritize his scheduled royal duties over reuniting with his estranged son, who flew to London on Tuesday. The King’s decision has been described as “extraordinary” by royal commentators as it highlights the tense relationship between the monarch and his youngest son.
Michael Cole, former royal correspondent, expressed his surprise at the King’s choice during a conversation with GB News. “Her son has flown 5,000 miles for the Invictus Games service at St. Paul’s Cathedral,” Cole said. “He is extraordinary. This is great medicine, for the King to say ‘my diary is too full’, that’s the kind of thing you say to people you barely know.”
“I imagine that in a normal family, a father and son who haven’t seen each other since February would normally meet. We have to accept what has come out of Buckingham Palace: that the King’s diary is full. “Harry will have gotten the message that he has brushed himself off,” Cole added.
“A lot of people will say about the weather and rightly so.” “This is a real royal flea in the King’s ear to his youngest son, fifth in line to the throne, Prince Harry,” he said. “It’s extraordinary, it’s great medicine, for the King to say ‘my diary is too full’, that’s the kind of thing you say to people you barely know. “In this world, words have consequences and the things that Harry and Meghan have been saying over the years have hit home not only with the King but also with Queen Camilla, Prince William and Princess Kate.”
Prince Harry had traveled to London to attend a special service at St Paul’s Cathedral to mark the opening of the Invictus Games, a multi-sport event for wounded and sick servicemen that he founded. However, King Charles cited his entire diary as the reason why he was unable to meet with Harry. A spokesperson for Prince Harry acknowledged the King’s busy schedule, saying: “Unfortunately, this will not be possible due to His Majesty’s full schedule. The Duke, of course, understands his father’s diary of engagements and other priorities and hopes to see you soon.”
The strained relationship between King Charles and Prince Harry has been widely discussed following Harry and Meghan Markle’s decision to step away from royal duties and their subsequent move to the United States. The tension was further exacerbated by the couple’s high-profile interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021 and the publication of Harry’s memoirs. Replacementwhich revealed intimate details about his life within the royal family.
Despite the challenges in his relationship, Prince Harry remains committed to his charitable work, including the Invictus Games. The event, which he founded in 2014, continues to inspire and support wounded and ill military veterans. His presence at the service at St. Paul’s Cathedral showed his dedication to the cause.
Meanwhile, King Charles III continues to navigate his new role as monarch following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. With a packed agenda of royal duties and state affairs, the King has been under immense pressure to maintain stability within the monarchy while also addressing family dynamics.