Prince Harry is in the U.K., and contrary to predictions, he won't be seeing his father King Charles during his stay.
On Tuesday, a spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex confirmed that the King is too busy to fit his youngest son into his agenda, telling the Telegraph, "In response to the many inquiries and continued speculation on whether or not the Duke will meet with his father while in the U.K. this week, it, unfortunately, will not be possible due to His Majesty’s full programme."
The spokesperson continued: "The Duke of course is understanding of his father’s diary of commitments and various other priorities and hopes to see him soon."
While Harry's statement was dignified in tone, "we can deduce that their relationship is terminally damaged," claims royal expert Jennie Bond, speaking to OK!.
"In a sensible world, Harry would stay with his dad at Clarence House—they could have cozy chats in perfect privacy and with all the security Harry wants," Bond continued.
There has been a lot of speculation as to whether father and son would meet while Harry was in his native country for an event celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the Invictus Games.
In recent weeks, it had felt likely that they would, with reports that the duke wanted a meeting with his dad. Though their relationship has been strained since Harry and his wife Meghan Markle moved to the U.S. in 2020, things had been looking up following a successful phone call between the two men on the King's birthday last November.
Stay In The Know
Marie Claire email subscribers get intel on fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more. Sign up here.
In the meantime, Charles sadly announced his cancer diagnosis, which prompted Harry to pay him a visit as soon as he could back in February. At the time, their meeting shocked royal watchers when it turned out it had only lasted some 45 minutes or so.
Still, it felt like an indicator that their relationship was on the mend—but with this latest blow, that perspective has been thrown into serious question.
Iris Goldsztajn is a London-based journalist, editor and author. She is the morning editor at Marie Claire, and her work has appeared in the likes of British Vogue, InStyle, Cosmopolitan, Refinery29 and SELF. Iris writes about everything from celebrity news and relationship advice to the pitfalls of diet culture and the joys of exercise. She has many opinions on Harry Styles, and can typically be found eating her body weight in cheap chocolate.
-
Ben Affleck Is Seen Wearing Wedding Ring As Divorce Rumors Swirl
The actor's marriage with Jennifer Lopez is reportedly on the rocks.
By Danielle Campoamor Published
-
The Artist Behind King Charles' Royal Portrait Explains His Decision to Use So Much Red
"The color was an early experiment..."
By Danielle Campoamor Published
-
Kristin Chenoweth Reveals She's a Survivor of Domestic Violence in Moving Post
"Never wanted to come out with it, but here we go."
By Danielle Campoamor Published
-
King Charles’ Net Worth Is Staggering—And His Dwarfs That of His Mother, the Late Queen Elizabeth
The King’s wealth has increased by $12 million since 2023 alone.
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
King Charles Has Apparently Made It Clear that Anyone Who Dares Criticizing Princess Kate Will “Risk Being Read the Riot Act”
“The King has made it clear that whatever Kate feels she needs, she gets.”
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Nigeria Trip Seems to Be the First of Many Royal Tour-Esque Visits the Couple Want to Undertake
“Being able to be on the ground, to us, is what it’s all about,” Harry said.
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Meghan Markle Calms Prince Harry Down and Helps Him with Anxiety at Public Engagements, Royal Commenter Says
The couple will celebrate their sixth wedding anniversary this weekend after a whirlwind three-day visit to Nigeria.
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Almost 5 Years On From Heartbreaking "Not Really OK" Interview in Africa, Meghan Markle Says "We're Really Happy" During Nigeria Tour
A poignant update.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Brought a Personal Photographer with Them to Visit Nigeria Over the Weekend
It’s a name that you’ll no doubt recognize, at that.
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
King Charles’ First Official Portrait Post-Coronation Is Actually Loaded with Symbolism and Meaning
As ever with any royal portrait, opinions about this latest one were mixed.
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
California's Attorney General's Office Confirms That Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Nonprofit Archewell Is "In Good Standing"
The nonprofit had briefly been labeled "delinquent" due to a lost check, but the issue was quickly resolved.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published