This week, Prince Harry headed back to the U.K. for the tenth anniversary of the Invictus Games, his Paralympic-style event for wounded servicemen. This is the first time he’s been back since February, when he visited his father shortly after King Charles was diagnosed with cancer. Except this time around, the royal boys are back to beefing: King Charles and Prince William both hosted their own major goings-on the same day as a church service commemorating the Invictus Games, forcing Harry to roll up to St. Paul’s Cathedral solo.
According to the Daily Beast, no one from the British royal family showed face at the church for Harry’s service — possibly because they were all required to come to a huge party thrown by Charles at the exact same time. Charles apparently ordered all working royals to attend a 5,000-person garden party at Buckingham Palace because nothing screams “fun” like a mandatory party. There, he and a snappy-looking top hat greeted Harry’s aunt Princess Anne, his uncle Prince Edward, Edward’s wife, Sophie, his cousin Prince Richard, and Richard’s wife, Bridget. “Working royals” apparently did not include William and Kate, whom People claims Harry invited to the service along with Charles — but William was busy with his own engagement on Wednesday, hosting an investiture for (among other people) director Ridley Scott at Windsor Castle.
So far, it’s been a lonely London visit for Harry, who told outlets through a spokesperson that seeing his father while he’s in town “unfortunately will not be possible due to His Majesty’s full program.” One source told Vanity Fair that Charles being too busy to see his son “feels very much like a snub.” Meanwhile, alleged insiders told the Daily Beast that Charles won’t see Harry because he still hasn’t forgiven him for calling Camilla “dangerous” and a “villain” in his memoir.
Luckily for Harry, one side of the family is far less estranged — his late mother Diana’s sister, brother, and cousin were all in attendance. I hope he brought them some thank-you jams.
