Prince Harry asked King Charles for meeting 'over a month before UK trip'

King Charles could "easily" have found time to see Prince Harry during his visit to London as his son asked him for a meeting weeks ago, according to a source.

Today, May 8, the Duke of Sussex will attend a special commemorative service at St Paul's Cathedral to mark 10 years since the first Invictus Games.

At the same time the King will be attending a garden party at Buckingham Palace, although initial reports suggested he would do his best to reunite with Harry as possible.

However yesterday a spokesperson for the Duke stated: "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."

Royal historian and friend of the Firm Hugo Vickers told Page Six: "If the King wanted to see Harry, he would find time very easily. You can never be too busy to see your son.

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"It’s a good idea if they do meet to forge some kind of reconciliation."

Mr Vickers added that points in His Majesty's day could open up for him to see Harry, including first thing in the morning.

Another royal source said: "The King has left the door wide open but obviously not that wide. But they absolutely can stuff things in his diary and juggle things around."

Harry last travelled to the UK back in February after learning that his father had been diagnosed with cancer, but they were only able to meet for around 30 minutes.

A senior royal source told Page Six about their reunion: "We don’t know how that meeting went, but I do know that the King was exhausted and really keen to get off to Balmoral.

"He was desperate to be on his way and was delayed until Harry turned up."

The Duke also extended an invitation to the service to several other members of the Royal Family, but none of them have accepted, with Prince William in particular not keen to see his brother.

Their relationship has suffered ever since Harry and Meghan moved to the US, with Harry's comments about William and Princess Kate in his memoir Spare adding further fuel to the fire.

A royal insider explained why William will not attend this week's Invictus event: "William is a hop, skip and a jump from the throne, with an ill wife and three young children — he has plenty on his plate."

The future King has further royal engagements coming up this week as he travels to the Duchy of Cornwall for an overnight trip on Thursday.

He will spend time both in Cornwall and on the Isles of Scilly, marking his first overnight trip away from home since Kate announced her cancer diagnosis in March.