Prince Harry faced a series of setbacks upon his arrival in London for the Invictus Games. It was revealed that his father, King Charles III, would not be meeting with him during his visit. Instead, Charles had made time to honor Prince William by passing on the role of Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps, a position Harry had once held. The timing of these announcements was seen as a snub, with insiders expressing that the lack of a meeting between father and son would be widely perceived as such.
The announcement from Buckingham Palace regarding the passing of the Colonel role to William came just hours after it was revealed that Charles had declined to meet with Harry during his visit to the UK. The role had previously been held by Charles for 31 years, and it was expected that Harry would eventually take it on before he stepped away from royal life. While Harry was in London for the Invictus Games, Charles was also nearby, but the two did not spend time together. Instead, Harry had dinner with city financier Guy Monson while Charles was at Clarence House.
Despite the speculation and inquiries about a potential meeting between Harry and Charles, it was confirmed that it was not possible due to the monarch’s full schedule. Harry’s spokesperson stated that the Duke of Sussex understood his father’s commitments and hoped to see him soon. This news comes after Harry last saw his father in February following Charles’ cancer diagnosis. It was also noted that Harry would likely not be visiting William and Kate Middleton during his time in London, as Middleton is also undergoing cancer treatment.
The depth of the family divide was emphasized by the lack of meeting between Harry and Charles during Harry’s trip to the UK. While Charles opted to honor William and pass on the Colonel role, Harry was in London to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Invictus Games. Despite the setbacks, Harry’s spokesperson stated that he understood his father’s busy schedule and priorities and hoped to see him soon. Harry arrived in London solo, but is expected to join his wife Meghan Markle on a tour to Nigeria in the near future.
Overall, Prince Harry’s trip to London for the Invictus Games was marked by family tensions and missed opportunities for reconciliation. The lack of a meeting between Harry and his father, King Charles III, and the passing of the Colonel role to Prince William instead of Harry, highlighted the ongoing divide within the royal family. Despite the setbacks, Harry remained focused on the Invictus Games and hoped to see his father and other family members soon. The strained relationships within the family were evident, but Harry remained optimistic about future interactions with his loved ones.
