There were widespread reports that the Duke of Sussex was planning to see his father during this week’s visit to London, and it was surprise, even shock, that such a meeting did not occur.
As Prince Harry’s newly appointed British spokesman explained on Tuesday: “In response to numerous inquiries and continued speculation about whether or not the Duke will meet his father while in the UK this week, unfortunately it will not be possible due to his Majesty’s complete program.
The duke, he continued, “understands his father’s diary of engagements and other priorities and hopes to see him soon.”
The Duke of Sussex meets the public at the Invictus Games Foundation’s 10th anniversary service at St Paul’s Cathedral on Wednesday.
Richard Eden says: ‘From everything I have heard, there will be no rapprochement between the Sussexes and the royals until Harry and Meghan have apologized for the distress they have caused.’
However, friends of King Charles and Queen Camilla who I have spoken to are not in the least surprised.
King, 75, has met with his youngest son only once since he was diagnosed with an unidentified form of cancer more than three months ago, and that meeting lasted no more than 30 minutes.
Harry had rushed from his home in California after the announcement of Charles’ illness, but was soon returning to the airport after a brief meeting with the King.
Why would Her Majesty have decided not to see her youngest son this week?
“He doesn’t need drama in his life,” one of the friends explained.
“Harry and Meghan have brought him and the rest of the family nothing but worries in recent years.”
King Charles has always wanted to use his position to make an impact.
Friends of the King and Queen told the Mail’s Richard Eden that the monarch decided not to meet Harry this week because he “doesn’t need the drama in his life” of a bitter son.
He founded the Prince’s Trust in 1976 to help vulnerable young people get their lives back on track. Later, he promoted traditional architecture and became a passionate advocate for environmental protection: just a few examples of his multiple interests.
“In some ways this may seem strange, but the cancer diagnosis has given Her Majesty even more energy,” another friend tells me.
Charles is all smiles attending a royal garden party at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday, the same day Prince Harry was just two miles away at St Paul’s Cathedral.
Charles dons a top hat and tails at yesterday’s Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace with Camilla
It’s been a bittersweet week for Harry, returning to the warmth of veterans at the Invictus Games Foundation’s 10th anniversary service at St Paul’s Cathedral, but being ignored by his own father and brother (below in 2014).
“He spent decades waiting to be king, of course, and realizes his time might be very limited.”
“Therefore, he is determined to make as much difference as possible, as soon as he can.”
“Frankly speaking, Harry and Meghan are a painful distraction I could do without.”
The King returned to his public engagements last week, with a visit to a cancer center, although he has not yet completed his treatment.
And the Queen gave some insight into her husband’s sense of urgency when she told a guest at a reception at Buckingham Palace: “I think he was really excited to go out.”
He added tellingly: “I’ve been trying to hold onto it.”
It is understood that the Sussexes have yet to apologize for their very personal and public criticism of the Royal Family.
It is said that, privately, they continue to insist that they They are the ones who deserve an apology.
From everything I’ve heard, there will be no rapprochement between the Sussexes and the royals until Harry and Meghan have apologized for the distress they have caused.
Megan and Harry (seen here with Charles in Trooping The Color in 2018) are now “a painful distraction I could do without”
I understand that the King finds it particularly difficult to forgive comments Harry made in his explosive memoir, Spare, in which the Duke portrayed his stepmother, Queen Camilla, as a “villain” who left him a “body in the street.” ” in his desire to rehabilitate his own image.
It was no coincidence that one of the Queen’s closest and most discreet confidants, the Marchioness of Lansdowne, decided to speak out last year about the pain Harry’s comments had caused.
“Of course it bothers you, of course it hurts you,” Lady Lansdowne then said.
‘His [Camilla’s] The philosophy is always: “Don’t worry about it and it will calm down; the less said, the sooner it will be fixed.”
Until Harry apologizes for that pain (at least privately, if not publicly), reunions with his father may be difficult to achieve.
