Prince Harry has confirmed he won’t see his father King Charles during his visit to the UK this week due to the monarch’s “full programme”.
Harry landed in the UK on Tuesday (local time) for a series of events linked to the Invictus Games.
He is expected to stay for three days before flying to Nigeria where he will be met by his wife Meghan.
A spokesperson for Harry has responded to “speculation on whether or not the duke will meet with his father while in the UK this week”.
They said: “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.”
Harry dashed to the UK in February after the King was diagnosed with an unspecified cancer.
Their first face-to-face meeting in 16 months lasted 30 minutes.
The prince flew to the UK alone without Meghan or their children Archie, five, and Lilibet, two, and left 24 hours later.
Speaking to a US breakfast show after his meeting with the King Harry spoke about being reunited with his father.
“I love my family,” he said.
“And the fact that I was able to get on a plane and go and see (my father) and spend time with, I’m grateful for that.”
It’s understood Harry will not see his brother Prince William this week – but had been “keen” to see his father while visiting.
After landing in England, Harry attended a one-day summit called the Invictus Games Foundation Conversation where he paid tribute to competitors’ “commitment, enthusiasm and belief”.
In the programme for the summit, he writes: “It has been an honour to watch the Invictus Games Foundation grow over the years.
“It began as a vision to pay tribute to the courage and resilience of wounded, injured, and sick service personnel and veterans.
“It has now flourished into an international organisation built on hope, strength, and unity.”
Harry will attend a service of Thanksgiving marking the 10th anniversary of the Games at St Paul’s Cathedral on Wednesday, where he will give a reading.
Harry launched the Invictus Games in 2014 as a sports contest for injured military veterans.
Charles, 75, resumed public duties last week for the first time since beginning cancer treatment.
Buckingham Palace has previously highlighted the king’s busy schedule this week which includes meetings and a Buckingham Palace garden party on Wednesday.
The king’s cancer diagnosis came just weeks before his daughter-in-law the Princess of Wales was also diagnosed with cancer after she underwent major abdominal surgery in January.
Kate has received prevantative chemotherapy and the palace has not confirmed when she will return to work.
William has been stung by his brother’s attacks on the royal family, during interviews and in his autobiography Spare, and has not spoken to Harry since Queen Elizabeth’s funeral.
– With The Sun.