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Prince Harry is reported to have asked to stay in a royal residence on his short trip to the UK during the week – before changing his mind and opting for a hotel.
The reports come amidst speculation over whether or not the Duke of Sussex would have had time to see his father, King Charles III, whilst stopping over in London for an Invictus Games ceremony at St Paul’s Cathedral in London.
Expectations had been growing of a reunion between the 39-year-old and his father, 75, for the first time since Harry’s sudden dash to Britain after learning that the King was being treated for an unspecified form of cancer.
But in the end the prince opted not to see his father despite being a stone’s throw from the royal residences in the capital.
Sources in Harry’s camp say he had notified his father of an intent to see him during the trip. However, those within the King’s circles insist that there was no notification given by the Duke ahead of time despite the request for lodgings.
King Charles pictured during a royal garden party at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday, May 8
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, pictured the same day as he left St Paul’s Cathedral in London just a few miles away
William, Harry, Meghan Markle and then-Prince Charles at Westminster Abbey in 2019. Harry has only seen his father a handful of times in recent years
Harry was only a few miles from Charles as he flew into London for the Invictus Games event
They also say no invite was extended to the monarch to attend the Invictus ceremony a few miles from Buckingham Palace, where a garden party was being held the same day, despite reports to the contrary.
In remarks reported by The Times, sources close to Harry said a request was put in to see his father well in advance of the visit, which was ‘long on the radar’.
Royal protocols reportedly require the Duke to give 28 days’ warning to the King and the Home Office to request security.
But while the King is said to have signed off on a request by Harry to stay in a royal residence the visit never came to pass – and sources say regardless of the request the estranged Duke did not seek to see his father.
Friends of the Duke have claimed Charles would not make time in his diary for his son – following a statement to that effect from Harry’s representatives on Tuesday.
A spokesperson for the Duke claimed Charles was too busy to see his son, saying on Tuesday: ‘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.’
The King did have a packed schedule while his son was in town including the Buckingham Palace part and his regular weekly audience with Rishi Sunak the same day as the Invictus thanksgiving event and a visit to a military barracks on Thursday.
But royal sources maintain no request was ever received from Harry’s camp to see his father.
One 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.’
King Charles III is pictured holding papers as he arrives at Clarence House in London on Tuesday – as Harry was set to jet in
Invictus Games Foundation chief executive Dominic Reid and Prince Harry at the Honourable Artillery Company in London on Tuesday
Prince Harry pictured meeting Louise Minchin at the Invictus Games event at Armoury House on May 7
Harry and Meghan have been in Nigeria this week (pictured) following the Duke’s whistle-stop visit to London
A friend of Harry’s, meanwhile, fired back: ‘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.’
Another added: ‘I was fully expecting them to meet. I know that’s what he wanted to happn and I don’t know when he’s next back.’
Buckingham Palace declined to comment when approached by the newspaper.
After the rapid dash to the UK to see Charles in February following his diagnosis, Harry expressed hopes to have more regular meetings with his family in interviews with US media.
Royal observers had been all-but-certain that the pair would meet this week; the news that there would be no meeting took many by surprise.
Expert Richard Palmer told MailOnline earlier this week: ‘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.
‘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.’
Harry and his wife Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, relinquished their access to a royal residence when they stepped back from duties in 2020.
The pair had previously called Frogmore Cottage in Windsor home. Harry now says his permanent residence is in the United States.
The Mirror has suggested there are rooms at Buckingham Palace, Clarence House, Kensington Palace and Windsor Castle that are made available to Harry should he wish to use them.
Following the whistle-stop visit to Britain, Harry flew to Nigeria to reunite with Meghan for three days in the country as they celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games.
The royal tour in all but name has seen the couple attend a lunch with the country’s defence minister and Meghan reflect on her Nigerian heritage as she referred to the nation as ‘my country’.
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