Prince Harry recently attended a service to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games at St Paul’s Cathedral in London. After the service, he was met by a large crowd of enthusiastic fans cheering him on as he left the cathedral. The prince looked stunned but thrilled as he made his way through the crowds, shaking hands and making jokes with his supporters. This warm reception was a welcome sight for the Duke of Sussex, especially considering his strained relationship with his father, King Charles III, who was attending a garden party at Buckingham Palace at the same time.
Despite the warm welcome from the crowd, Harry was unable to secure a meeting with his father during his visit to the UK. A spokesperson cited King Charles III’s full schedule as the reason for the inability to arrange a reunion. The Duke of Sussex expressed understanding of his father’s commitments and priorities and hoped to see him soon. Just days after Harry’s arrival in London, Buckingham Palace announced that Prince William, Harry’s brother, would be taking over the role of Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps from King Charles III. This news came shortly after Charles declined to meet with Harry.
The news of William taking on the role that Harry had been expected to inherit added to the tensions between the royal family members. The role of Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps had been held by King Charles III for 31 years, and it was planned that Harry would eventually take over the role. However, with the recent announcement, it seems that William will be assuming the position instead. Harry, who served in the army air corps and toured Afghanistan with the regiment, will now not be taking on this military appointment.
Harry last saw his father in February, following Charles’s cancer diagnosis. Currently, he is preparing to join his wife, Meghan Markle, on a tour of Nigeria. Despite the strains in his relationships with his family members, Harry remains enthusiastic about the Invictus Games, which he founded in 2014. The games, which are a multi-sport event for wounded veterans, hold special significance for Harry, who served in the armed forces and has continued to be involved in supporting veterans.