King Charles offered Harry a royal home for his visit to the UK, but the Duke of Sussex stayed in a hotel instead, Daily Mail reported.
The reports come amid speculation over whether the Duke of Sussex had time to see his father, King Charles III, during a stopover in London for the Unruly Games ceremony at St Paul’s Cathedral in London.
In addition, Prince Harry reportedly asked to stay at the royal residence during his short trip to the UK for a week before changing his mind and chose not to see his father, despite being a stone’s throw from the royal residences in the capital.
For many, it was the hope of reuniting the 39-year-old and his father, 75, for the first time since Harry suddenly arrived in the UK after learning the King was undergoing treatment for an undetermined form of cancer. He said back then that he hoped the cancer diagnosis could reunify members of the royal family.
Sources in Harry’s camp say he had notified his father of his intention to meet him during the trip, and that the request to see his father was made well in advance of the visit, which was “long on the radar.” However, people in the royal entourage insist that the Duke did not give advance notice, despite the accommodation request.
Royal protocols reportedly require the Duke to give the king and the Home Office 28 days’ notice to request security. But friends of the Duke have said Charles would not make time for his son in his diary – following an announcement from Harry’s representatives on Tuesday. A spokesman for the Duke said Charles was too busy to see his son.
Buckingham Palace declined to comment when approached by the newspaper.
Following his visit to the UK, Harry flew to Nigeria to reunite with Meghan for three days in the country where they are celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games. Prince Harry now says his permanent residence is in the United States. He and his wife Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, refused access to the royal residence when they stepped away from their duties in 2020.
