11 May 2024 , 08:15
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Prince Harry is in "total estrangement" from the Royal Family as the Invictus Games are now his "only thing" linking him to the UK, one of his old Army friends has said.
The Duke of Sussex travelled to the UK to mark the 10th anniversary of the Games, which he founded in 2014, and attended a ceremony at St Paul's Cathedral in London. However, he was not joined by any senior royals and while it was previously thought Harry would meet his father, King Charles, during the trip, this did not happen.
Harry's spokesperson said the Duke understood why his father was unable to fit a visit into his schedule, but according to royal expert and author Tom Quinn, a statement released earlier this week hid "a huge amount of awkwardness, anger, and bitterness." Harry's representative said on Tuesday: "In response to the many inquiries and continued speculation on whether or not the Duke will meet with his father while in the UK this week, it unfortunately will not be possible due to His Majesty's full programme.
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Harry meets members of the public in London (Getty Images for Invictus Games)"The Duke of course is understanding of his father's diary of commitments and various other priorities and hopes to see him soon." Responding to the statement, Mr Tom Quinn, a royal expert and author, said the fact that Harry and his father did not meet shows "how damaged" their relationship is, as the pair have only met a handful of times since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped down as senior royals and moved to the US, where they now live with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
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The expert told us: "Harry's well-publicised statement that he is not going to see his father because he is 'understanding of his father's commitments but hopes to see him some time' may sound perfectly reasonable, but it masks a huge amount of awkwardness, anger, and bitterness. King Charles is stricken with cancer yet his son says they are not going to meet during this rare visit and talks vaguely of seeing his father 'some time'."
He added: "It's a shocking statement and shows just how damaged the relationship is. Harry has hardly seen his father since he and Meghan left for America in 2020 and with his father seriously ill you might think his first port of call on returning to the UK would be Clarence House – quickly followed by a visit to his sister-in-law, Kate. But no."
Prince Harry and King Charles did not meet on this occasion (Getty Images)Mr Quinn mentioned one of Harry's old Army friends who claimed: "The Invictus Games is just about the only thing that would have got him back in the country – and even then, it was touch and go. That's how strongly he feels about even being in the same country as his father and brother. It's total estrangement."
Despite the news that Harry and Charles would not meet taking many by surprise, according to royal insiders, it is no shock that the King was reluctant to make room in his diary. The monarch is reportedly still waiting for an apology for the "drama" caused by his younger son and Meghan and views the Sussexes as a "painful distraction he could do without".
According to a source close to the King, he is still reeling from the barrage of explosive claims Harry and Meghan have made about the Royal Family over the last couple of years. Speaking to the Daily Mail, they explained: "He doesn't need the drama in his life," adding: "Harry and Meghan have brought him, and the rest of the family, nothing but worries over the past few years."
Harry and Meghan with Kate and William after the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022 (Getty Images)Following the King's cancer diagnosis in February, Harry rushed to the UK and saw his father for around 30 minutes. He said he was "grateful" to see the monarch and declared: "I love my family." He added: "The fact that I was able to get on a plane and go and see him and spend any time with him I'm grateful for that."
When asked if the diagnosis could have a "reunifying effect" amid their feud, Harry said he is certain it will. "Yeah, I'm sure. Throughout all these families I see it on a day-to-day basis the strength of the family unit coming together. I think any illness, any sickness brings families together," he told the host. However, Harry refused to discuss his father's condition and said "that stays between me and him".
According to royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams, even though Harry and Charles did not meet on this occasion, it is possible that they will see each other soon. He told Express.co.uk: "I would have thought one is likely to be planned, given that King Charles has a serious illness, though he is displaying amazing energy in his engagements."
He added that the King would likely base his visit on two conditions - that it is "private" and "planned beforehand". Despite a trip possibly in the works, Mr Fitzwilliams added: "However after this week, when according to Harry's spokesperson, his commitments precluded a meeting, the King has sent a clear sign that any future visit is likely to be beneficial only if it's private and planned beforehand without the accompanying media circus which we’ve just seen."
The Mirror has contacted Prince Harry's representatives for comment.
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