Prince Harry returned to London this week to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games, but hopes for a royal reconciliation were dashed when it was confirmed that he would not meet with his estranged father, King Charles, due to the king’s busy schedule. Despite being less than 3 miles away from each other, the two did not have a chance to reunite.
On Wednesday, the divide between King Charles and Prince Harry was evident as they attended separate events. The king hosted a garden party at Buckingham Palace, his first since his cancer diagnosis, which was attended by 8,000 guests. Meanwhile, just 2.6 miles away, Harry gave a reading at London’s St Paul’s Cathedral to commemorate the inaugural Invictus Games. While the king was accompanied by his wife, Queen Camilla, and other members of the royal family, Harry arrived at his event alone.
Inside the cathedral, Harry was greeted by his late mother Princess Diana’s relatives, including his uncle and aunt Earl Spencer and Lady Jane Fellowes, who embraced him warmly. Despite the circumstances, Harry appeared to be in good spirits, waving to excited fans lining the streets of London.
Prince William, however, did not attend either event as he carried out a royal engagement at Windsor Castle in the morning and spent the day with his wife Kate Middleton and their three children. It seems that the chances of a royal reunion on Thursday are equally slim, as King Charles has another royal engagement in Surrey. He will be meeting with staff at the Army’s Royal Engineers, of which he is Colonel-in-Chief. The king has been managing his royal duties while undergoing outpatient treatment for cancer.
As for Prince Harry, he will be leaving London on Thursday to join his wife Meghan Markle in Nigeria. The couple, who stepped back from their royal roles in 2020 and relocated to the United States, were invited by Nigeria’s chief of defense staff. This invitation from the country’s highest-ranking military official highlights the continued importance of Harry’s work in supporting veterans and military personnel.
The physical proximity of King Charles and Prince Harry during their respective events in London serves as a stark reminder of their strained relationship. Despite the hopes for a reconciliation, it seems that their schedules and commitments have prevented a meeting. The absence of Prince William from these events also raises questions about the dynamics within the royal family. However, it is clear that both King Charles and Prince Harry are dedicated to their individual duties and causes, even if it means being physically apart.
