A poignant shadow has been cast over Prince Harry's imminent return to the UK, as it is reported that his father, King Charles, may not be able to find time to meet him. The Duke of Sussex is scheduled to travel to Britain in early May for a service marking the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games.
However, the King's diary is said to be "full to the brim" with official engagements and commitments, leaving little room for a personal reunion with his youngest son. This potential snub comes despite the fact that the monarch is currently undergoing treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer.
A Relationship Under Strain
The relationship between the King and the Duke has been famously strained since Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, stepped down as senior working royals in 2020. Their subsequent move to California and the revealing interviews and memoirs that followed have reportedly caused significant hurt within the family.
Their interactions have been minimal and notably formal in recent years. The King's coronation in May 2023 saw Harry attend alone, but he was seated far from the immediate family and departed quickly after the ceremony, with no private audience with his father.
A Glimmer of Hope Quickly Extinguished
There was a brief moment of reconciliation in February when Harry flew to London immediately after the King's cancer diagnosis was made public. The pair met for approximately 45 minutes at Clarence House, a meeting described as a positive step.
Yet, that flicker of hope appears to have dimmed. The King's team is prioritising his health and his constitutional duties, with insiders suggesting that a meeting during the May trip is highly unlikely given the "full" schedule. This decision underscores the enduring depth of the rift, prioritising royal protocol over family reconciliation during a challenging health battle for the monarch.
