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Privacy NoticePrince Harry is said to have declined the offer to stay at a Royal residence during his trip to the UK earlier this year. The Duke of Sussex, 39, has made only a few trips back to Britain since stepping down from royal duties in 2020, for significant events such as his grandparents’ funeral, the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, and the King’s Coronation. In May, he was in London for the Invictus Games’ 10th anniversary, and recently, he made a covert visit for his uncle’s funeral. Harry attended the service for Lord Robert Fellowes, who was married to Princess Diana’s sister, Lady Jane, and passed away at the age of 82 last month. The funeral took place in Norfolk on Thursday. Prince William was also there, and it’s reported that the brothers were “discreet” around each other.
Harry made a ‘discreet visit to the UK’ earlier this week
(Image: Getty Images)
A source revealed to The Sun that both princes attended and sat separately at the back of the church. A second source commented: “I didn’t know they were there. They arrived very discreetly,” reports the Mirror. Meanwhile, a third person at the service noted: “We never saw them speak to each other and they kept their distance.” With every visit Harry makes to the UK, supporters cling to the hope that the family will reconcile, but the divide seems far from being bridged. On his previous return in May this year, Harry is believed to have been invited to Buckingham Palace but chose to stay in a hotel instead. King Charles, aged 75, apparently was the one who extended an invitation to Prince Harry for a brief return trip during his May visit for an Invictus Games event. Despite being nearby at Clarence House, Charles reportedly proposed they use Buckingham Palace as a meeting spot to seize the rare chance for some father-son time. Sign up to OK’s royal newsletter to get updates sent to your inbox for free
William and Harry have a strained relationship
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However, Harry opted instead for a London hotel stay, and due to the King’s ‘full programme’, their paths didn’t cross. A source confided to The Times: “I don’t know what more the King could have done. He offered Harry to stay at Buckingham Palace but that it seems even that wasn’t good enough. It was far from clear what the Duke’s plans were. When it came to it there was no space in the King’s diary in between treatment and other scheduled events.” Harry’s spokesperson commented at the time: “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.” An source told The Times: “It makes Harry’s decision to stay in a hotel all the more strange when the Palace would naturally offer all the security you could wish for. It would also have made more sense from a point of view of seeing his father as it would be easier for the King to see his son if they were staying nearby.” Earlier reports by The Telegraph suggested the Duke had declined a Royal residence stay because it offered no security, leaving him without police protection and vulnerable at a location with public access. His choice of hotel lodgings meant he maintained a low profile, avoiding the public eye while coming and going.Story SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnPrince HarryKing Charles III
