Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, reportedly declined an offer from his father, King Charles III, to stay in a royal residence during his recent trip to London. According to Roya Nikkhah, the Sunday Times' royal editor, the 75-year-old monarch had agreed to provide accommodation for his 39-year-old son, who no longer has an official residence in the U.K. since stepping down from his royal duties in 2020 and moving to California with his wife, Meghan Markle.
Sources close to the royal family reveal that despite the generous offer, Prince Harry opted to stay in a hotel instead. The Duke of Sussex's visit to the U.K. was to attend a St. Paul's Cathedral service celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games, which he co-founded. However, during his time in London, Harry did not meet with his father, further fueling speculation about the state of their relationship.
In a statement to Us Weekly, Harry's spokesperson confirmed, "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 program."
The decision by Prince Harry to decline the offer of a royal residency has raised eyebrows and sparked discussions about the ongoing tensions between the Duke of Sussex and the royal family. Friends of King Charles maintain that Harry neither requested to see his father nor invited him to attend the service at St. Paul's Cathedral, highlighting the monarch's busy schedule, which included attending a Buckingham Palace garden party, holding a weekly audience with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and undertaking a military engagement in Wiltshire.
By snubbing the Invictus event, Charles and William inadvertently did Harry a favor. It's heartwarming to see Earl Spencer demonstrate to the world that #PrinceHarry is still surrounded by family. #KingCharles #PrinceWilliampic.twitter.com/wQhkeDnEta — Hon3y Rajpoot (@hon3y_rajpoot13) May 9, 2024
"It's all very sad," a friend of King Charles commented. "While he was hardly going to roll out the red carpet the moment this Invictus trip was announced, with doctors advising him to focus on his treatment and recovery, the idea that he refused to find space in his diary ... well, let's say recollections may vary once again."
The relationship between Prince Harry and the royal family has been strained since he and Meghan stepped down from their roles as senior working royals and moved to the United States. The couple's decision to speak openly about their experiences within the monarchy, particularly in their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey, has further deepened the rift.
Despite the tensions, Harry and Charles had reopened lines of communication after the monarch was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer earlier this year. In February, Harry told Good Morning America, "I love my family. The fact that I was able to get on a plane and go and see him and spend any time with him, I'm grateful for that."
The Duke of Sussex's visit to London comes amidst other significant developments within the royal family. Princess Kate Middleton, the wife of Harry's brother, Prince William, is also battling an undisclosed type of cancer and is currently undergoing preventive chemotherapy. While Harry and Meghan remain at odds with William and Kate, they did privately reach out when they learned of the princess' illness, with a source telling Us Weekly, "The Duke and Duchess [of Sussex] want to be super respectful and don't want to add stress to the situation."
As Prince Harry reunites with Meghan for their first official tour in Nigeria, the media and royal watchers continue to closely scrutinize his interactions with the royal family. The decision to decline King Charles' offer of a royal residence has only heightened speculation about the state of their relationship and the ongoing challenges the Duke of Sussex faces as he navigates his new life away from the monarchy.
