Hopes for a Charles and Harry reunion? King and Duke of Sussex will both be in London at same time next week – but Palace insiders say any meeting is likely to be brief because monarch’s diary is ‘quite busy’
Any reunion next week between Prince Harry and King Charles is likely to be brief as the monarch is ‘quite busy’, Palace insiders say, despite both the father and son being in London at the same time.
The Duke of Sussex, 39, is due to fly to the UK for Invictus Games 10th anniversary where he will give a reading during a ceremony at St Paul’s Cathedral on May 8.
He is expected to make the trip to London on Tuesday as it is his son Prince Archie‘s fifth birthday the day before.
It will be the first time Harry would have been in Britain since his dramatic 5,000 mile transatlantic dash in February to see his father for 45 minutes following his shock cancer diagnosis.
Although the 75-year-old monarch will make time to see his son if he can, any emotional reunion is likely to be brief again as Charles is ‘quite busy’, sources told The Telegraph.
Any reunion next week between Prince Harry and King Charles is likely to be brief as the monarch is ‘quite busy’, Palace insiders say
Prince Harry, 39, is due to fly to the UK for Invictus Games 10th anniversary where he will give a reading during a ceremony at St Paul’s Cathedral on May 8
The King’s diary for the week includes his weekly audience with the Prime Minister on Wednesday. Charles also hopes to be able to attend the first Buckingham Palace garden party of the season, if his medics allow.
The monarch is also understood to have various other appointments and engagements for the rest of the week.
It was announced earlier this week doctors had permitted The King to return to public-facing duties for the first time since his cancer diagnosis.
His Majesty is not yet clear of the disease and is still undergoing treatment, but his medical team are understood to be ‘pleased with the progress made so far’ and ‘remain positive’ about his recovery.
It is not know how long Harry will stay in the UK, but no plans have been confirmed for him to meet with his brother Prince William and the Princess of Wales.
He will then jet off to Nigeria to meet his wife Meghan Markle, 42, who is also not believed to be travelling alongside him to the UK.
The couple will head to the Commonwealth country after being invited by the African country’s chief of defence staff, who met Harry last September at the Invictus Games in Dusseldorf.
They are expected to meet service members and their families, and participate in traditional cultural activities.
It will be the first time Harry would have been in Britain since his dramatic 5,000 mile transatlantic dash in February (pictured) to see his father for 45 minutes following his shock cancer diagnosis.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (pictured on April 12 in Florida) will tour Nigeria after the Duke’s trip to the UK
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (pictured in South Africa in 2019) are set to travel to the African country in May after being invited by its chief of defence staff
Meghan signs the Nigeria flag at the Invictus Games in Dusseldorf on September 13 last year
No senior member of the royal family is expected to be at the event. Neither the Sussexes’ office nor Buckingham Palace have confirmed any plans for Harry to meet with either his brother Prince William
Meghan’s Nigerian heritage was referenced by Harry at the opening ceremony of the Dusseldorf Invictus Games last September, after Nigeria joined Colombia and Israel in sending their first-ever delegation to the event.
‘We’re really excited to have new nations join us. Let’s hear it for Colombia, Israel and Nigeria,’ Harry told the crowd at the Merkur Spiel-Arena.
‘Now, I’m not saying we play favourites in our home, but since my wife discovered she is of Nigerian descent, it’s likely to get a little bit more competitive this year!’
Harry was one of the first family members seen to visit Charles after his shock diagnosis was made public in February.
The behind closed doors reunion at Clarence House did not last long with the Duke seen leaving at 3.31pm, having spent just over 45 minutes with his father.
Charles, who had been in London to receive treatment, left just seven minutes later with Camilla at 3.38pm to board the helicopter in the grounds of Buckingham Palace.
