Amid the turmoil that has rocked the British royal family, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, has returned to London.
The visit marks his second appearance in the British capital this year and has been greeted with a mixture of anticipation and tension.
Prince Harry arrived in London on Tuesday, May 7, three months after his last visit, which was prompted by the news that his father, King Charles, had been diagnosed with cancer.
On that occasion, Harry flew to London to be at his father’s side for a brief but meaningful 45-minute conversation before returning to California with his wife, Meghan Markle, and their two children, Archie and Lili.
Prince Harry in London today
This time, the reason for his visit is very different. Harry has returned to England to attend an event marking the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games, an international sports competition for wounded military personnel and veterans that he founded in 2014.
As part of the celebrations, Harry will attend a panel discussion and service at St. Paul’s Cathedral on Wednesday, where he will give a reading and Homeland actor Damian Lewis will recite the Invictus poem.
Despite the public nature of his visit, Harry also wanted to use the opportunity to meet with his father. Sadly, this meeting will not take place.
Meeting between King Charles and Prince Harry
The news that King Charles and Prince Harry would not meet during the latter’s visit to London was confirmed on Tuesday, shortly after Harry landed in the UK.
Spokespeople for the Duke of Sussex confirmed that father and son would not meet during the visit.
A spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex says, “In response to the many inquiries and continued speculation on whether or not The Duke will meet with his father while in the U.K. this week, it unfortunately will not be possible due to His Majesty’s full program. The Duke of course is understanding of his father’s diary of commitments and various other priorities and hopes to see him soon.”
This news comes just days after King Charles III announced that he was returning to work after several weeks without a public schedule.
These days have been intense for the son of Queen Elizabeth II, so much so that he declined to meet his son.
The British press has widely reported this decision, which was apparently welcomed by Prince William, the heir to the British throne.
William does not have a relationship with his brother and will not be meeting with him on this occasion, just as he did not meet with him in February.
William doesn’t like the idea of Harry visiting his father, who is very busy and in the midst of treating his illness.
This decision by King Charles III not to meet his son at such a complicated and crucial moment for the British royal family marks a milestone.
It is very relevant to analyze the relationship of the monarch with his youngest son and of Harry with his family in general.
Despite the fact that Harry would be willing to get closer to his family, the members of the British royal household do not seem to think the same and did not want to see him during this new visit of the prince to the U.K.
They have not forgiven him for everything he has said in recent years, both in his television interviews and in his documentary and book, and they do not fully trust his intentions after everything that has happened in his family in recent months.