Prince Harry’s recent visit to the United Kingdom in May has prompted interest and curiosity, notably about his accommodations and his connection with his father, King Charles. According to sources, the Duke of Sussex, who was in Britain to honor the tenth anniversary of the Invictus Games, was offered a room in Buckingham Palace but chose to stay in a hotel.
This action has sparked speculation about the relationship between Prince Harry and the rest of the royal family. Initially, it was assumed Prince Harry had sought to remain in a royal house, which the King apparently accepted. However, it appears that plans altered, and Harry elected to stay elsewhere, perhaps due to issues in scheduling a meeting with his father.
According to sources, King Charles, who was residing at Clarence House at the time, had a full agenda that included military engagements and his weekly meeting with the Prime Minister. Despite Harry’s expressed wish to meet his father during their tour, the two were unable to arrange a meeting. Friends of Harry have speculated that the King’s hectic schedule was to blame for the missed opportunity, while others in royal circles believe the Duke failed to provide adequate notice for a meeting.
This visit was especially poignant because it was intended to be Harry and King Charles’ first meeting since it was revealed that the King was having treatment for an unidentified type of cancer. Harry had already traveled to the UK after learning about his father’s illness, and they met briefly at Clarence House. During this May visit, no such meeting took place.
Following his visit to the United Kingdom, Prince Harry headed to Nigeria with his wife, Meghan Markle, for a “quasi-royal tour.” The couple then moved on to Colombia, where they were warmly received by the country’s Vice President, Francia Márquez, and her husband. The Sussexes are spending four days in Colombia, seeing cultural and social sites and meeting with members of Team Colombia, which is preparing for the 2025 Invictus Games in Whistler, Canada.
This journey is part of the Sussexes’ larger efforts to maintain their public image and humanitarian activity outside of the British royal family. Their visit to Colombia, like their previous trip to Nigeria, has been labeled a “DIY royal tour,” emphasizing their ongoing involvement in worldwide humanitarian operations.
As Prince Harry and Meghan Markle continue their travels, it is unclear when Harry will next see his father. Their relationship’s complexity, as well as the problems of reconciling personal and public responsibilities, continue to pique the public’s and media’s curiosity.
