Prince Harry is “extremely disappointed” that his father, King Charlesturned down a meeting during his visit to London, despite being just 'a stone's throw away'.
A source told the Daily Express there could be a major issue preventing the meeting Queen Camille's presence alongside King Charles at Buckingham Palace on May 8.
“Harry is obviously hugely disappointed that he didn't get a meeting with his father this time,” the source said.
“It's even harder to wrap your head around it when you consider that the couple will be in the same city, at the same time and just steps away from each other.”
Sources say Buckingham Palace and the Sussex camp had been trying to arrange logistics for a place and time to meet during Harry's visit to London – the consensus being that the meeting should take place on the sidelines of the Buckingham Palace Garden Party in May. 8 – same day Prince Harry will attend the Invictus Games 10th Anniversary Service.”
There has been no agreement yet on whether there will be time to meet on the 8th,” a source said earlier today.
“Aides are confident that if a meeting were to take place at Buckingham Palace tomorrow, the Queen would also be present, which could be a point of contention.”
Harry arrived in Britain alone this morning after flying from California for the 10th anniversary ceremony of the Invictus Games in London tomorrow.
The Duke of Sussex was pictured at Armory House this afternoon for an Invictus Games discussion entitled 'Realising a Global Community'.
“There are actually two options for a meeting discussed,” the source said earlier today. “
One for tonight at Clarence House and one for tomorrow.
No agreement has yet been reached on either meeting, but talks are still ongoing while Harry is here to see if something can be arranged for tomorrow.
Despite a glimmer of optimism about a last-ditch attempt at a meeting, Prince HarryThe pair's spokesperson confirmed today that a clash of diaries was the reason the pair could not reunite.
They said in a statement: “Unfortunately this will not be possible due to His Majesty's full schedule. The Duke obviously understands his father's diary with commitments and various other priorities and hopes to see him soon.”
The Daily Express revealed last week that the chances of Queen Camilla attending a meeting with King Charles and his son were slim.
“Let's just say the Queen may be otherwise engaged,” a source said at the time.
During his last visit to Britain in early February, Harry reportedly had a quick 45-minute meeting with the king at Clarence House.
The details of that visit remain shrouded in mystery, including whether Queen Camilla was present.
This trip marks Harry's first time back in Britain since that quick visit, which was prompted by King Charles' cancer diagnosis.
“Harry did the right thing by flying over in February,” the source said.
“But it was really a last minute surprise and somewhat forced on the household. The optics would not have been good if a meeting had not taken place at that time.”
Harry's stay in London this week will be short-lived.
His relationship with the royal family has been the subject of intense public scrutiny, especially after his move to the United States.
“Harry is really trying to repair the damage that has been done in recent years,” the source said.
“It's proving to be a very difficult task for him to get back in, but he only has himself to blame.”