Prince Harry’s whistle-stop UK trip in full: Map shows Duke’s itinerary as he visited London for Invictus Games St Paul’s service – while King Charles was ‘too busy’ to see him
Prince Harry will jet off from London to Nigeria to join his wife Meghan Markle for the Sussexes’ first tour of the country as a couple following his visit to the UK.
It completes the Duke’s whistle-stop trip, in which his cancer-stricken father King Charles was ‘too busy’ to see him.
Harry’s three-day stay in London has been jam-packed full of meetings and events to celebrate the Invictus Games’ 10th anniversary, culminating with a ceremony at St Paul’s Cathedral yesterday.
Meanwhile, the 75-year-old monarch was just 2.6 miles away hosting Buckingham Palace‘s first garden party of the year.
The Duke flew more than 5,000 miles over the Atlantic on Tuesday, the day after his son Prince Archie‘s fifth birthday.
An itinerary of Prince Harry’s whistle-stop visit to the UK this week, in which at times he was just a few miles away from his father King Charles though they did not meet
TUESDAY: Invictus Games Foundation chief executive Dominic Reid and Prince Harry at the Honourable Artillery Company in London
TUESDAY: King Charles III is pictured holding papers as he arrives at Clarence House in London
It was believed Harry’s plane touched down on the tarmac at around 9.30am following the ten-hour red eye transatlantic flight.
It was thought he has been staying a hotel in London because he no longer has Frogmore Cottage in Windsor, much like his brief previous visit in February when he made the transatlantic dash from his California base following the shock announcement of his father’s cancer diagnosis.
The dramatic visit saw Harry granted a 30-minute meeting with Charles.
When Harry arrived this week, Charles left Windsor Castle having spent the bank holiday weekend there and was spotted in the back seat of his State Bentley reading government papers.
There had been much speculation as to whether the father and son would be spending any time together amid tensions between the estranged prince and the royal family.
But Harry’s spokesman shot down any rumours that may have been swirling to confirm there would be no reunion.
TUESDAY: Prince Harry meets Louise Minchin at the Invictus Games event at Armoury House
TUESDAY: Prince Harry is seen at Armoury House in London attending an Invictus Games event
TUESDAY: Invictus Games Foundation chief executive Dominic Reid and Prince Harry at the Honourable Artillery Company in London
TUESDAY: Sir Keith Mills, who helped establish the Invictus Games, greets Prince Harry in London
TUESDAY: Harry at Armoury House in London for an Invictus Games panel with Louise Minchin
TUESDAY: King Charles III greets the Prime Minister of Fiji, Sitiveni Rabuka, at Buckingham Palace
Harry was three miles away from Charles at the Invictus Games discussion in London on Tuesday
The Duke’s spokesman released a statement on Tuesday saying: ‘In response to the many inquiries and continued speculation on whether or not the duke will meet with his father while in the UK this week, it unfortunately will not be possible due to His Majesty’s full programme.
‘The duke of course is understanding of his father’s diary of commitments and various other priorities and hopes to see him soon.’
Charles had an audience with Fiji’s prime minister at Buckingham Palace, followed by a meeting with senior military commanders, and then medical appointments connected to his ongoing cancer treatment, the last of which are followed by an obligation to rest.
Meanwhile, four and half hours after landing in London, the prince arrived at the Honourable Artillery Company’s headquarters in the capital.
He happily chatted with Pikemen and Musketeers ahead of an Invictus Games discussion between 2pm and 4pm called ‘Realising a Global Community’, hosted by Louise Minchin.
During his chat onstage, Louise asked the former senior working royal to reflect back on a magic moment that made him smile.
Harry said: ‘It probably hasn’t changed, it has to be the beginning, 2014, in the Copper Box. I was at the DJ sets and trying to choose some of the music, put the lights on and get people on their feet.
‘And…is Guy in the house? Guy Monson? Are you here? No? Well we’re having dinner at his place later so he’ll definitely be there.’
Guy Monson is a city financier and a trustee of the Invictus Games Foundation, who was on the organising committee for the launch in 2014.
WEDNESDAY: Princess Diana ‘s siblings were quick to show their support for Prince Harry during the Invictus Games anniversary service. Pictured: The Duke of Sussex leaving St Paul’s
The late Princess of Wales’ younger brother Earl Spencer and elder sister Lady Jane Fellowes walked in side-by-side to St Paul’s
Harry was greeted by members of his late mother’s family and was seen on camera warmly embracing both of them. Pictured: Harry and Lady Jane talking happily
A happy Prince Harry hugs his uncle as his aunt takes a seat next to him at St Paul’s
Prince Harry smiles as he leaves St Paul’s Cathedral alone following a service to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games
In 2018, he was appointed treasurer to William and Kate and Harry and Meghan, before the Sussexes stepped down as working royals.
Guy, chief investment officer of Sarasin and Partners, a London-based £18billion investment fund, was alongside the warring brothers when they unveiled a statue of their mother Princess Diana in 2021 at Kensington Palace. It was Harry and William’s last solo engagement together.
Speaking of the moment, Judi James, a body language expert, told FEMAIL that the name-dropping was intentional to put out a message to the crowd that he won’t be short of company during his stay in the UK.
She said: ‘He looks keen to be meeting friends here in the UK, at one point he name-checks someone, rubbing his upper thigh with both hands in a gesture of positive anticipation.
‘[Harry] then throws in the info that he will be having dinner with them tonight as though keen to let everyone know he will not be sitting alone in his room, dining from room service and the mini-bar and pining for dinner at the Palace.’
Yesterday, much as the day before, Charles and Harry’s diary clashes became evident, even if at times they were just two miles apart.
The King looked ‘delighted’ and ‘playful’ at Buckingham Palace’s first garden party of the year in the afternoon sun, before he held his regular sit-down with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in the evening.
Meanwhile King Charles, who was invited to attend the service in central London, held the first garden party of the season at Buckingham Palace
Guests attending the royal garden party at Buckingham Palace in London yesterday afternoon
King Charles III speaks to guests as he hosts a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in central London
King Charles III speaks to guests attending the garden party at Buckingham Palace
King Charles III (centre) and Queen Camilla walk out to join the crowds at the Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace
The King, Queen, Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Princess Royal and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester arrive together for the garden party
King Charles III speaks to guests attending a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace
While Charles was surrounded by senior royals including his wife Queen Camilla, Princess Anne and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, Harry cut a lonely figure as he climbed the steps to St Paul’s Cathedral for the Invictus Games’ 10th anniversary ceremony.
No members of the royal family made an appearance at the Duke’s anniversary service.
However, his uncle the Earl Spencer, who greeted him with a loving embrace, and Lady Jane Fellowes – the younger brother and elder sister of Princess Diana – were in attendance.
Other notable guests included his cousin Louis Spencer, the Prime Minister’s wife Akshata Murty and his lawyer David Sherbourne. Former army officer Mark Dyer, who helped mentor Harry, was also there.
As he left the cathedral on a balmy evening in the capital, the Californian-based royal greeted large crowds.
He was heard asking two fans from New York what had brought them to the UK. When they responded they were here for a wedding, the Prince jokingly asked it was ‘in there?’ referring to St Paul’s Cathedral.
Throughout the service, Harry gave a reading from 1 Corinthians 12 4-11.
Actor Damian Lewis, 53, meanwhile read out the Invictus poem with the service being conducted by William Ernest Henley.
An emotional reading was also given by Michelle Turner who is the UK Invictus Games Team vice-captain. She read a personal poem about how the games had helped her recovery and impacted her family.
At the end of the reading she tearfully said: ‘Thank you Invictus, for giving me my life back.’
