Harry 'not invited to dinner with King Charles and Will' after Queen's death

15 January 2024 , 09:34

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Harry and Charles' relationship is still frosty

Prince Harry was reportedly snubbed by his father King Charles and brother Prince William just hours after Queen Elizabeth’s death, according to a royal insider.

The longest-serving monarch in British royal history, who had only mourned the death of her husband Prince Phillip just months before, sadly passed away at the age of 96 at Balmoral Castle in Scotland in September 2022. Members of the Royal Family frantically raced to Balmoral to see the Queen before she died. But Harry - who was already in the UK for a series of charity events with his wife Meghan Markle - did not make it in time.

The Duke of Sussex later revealed in his memoir Spare that he was informed of his beloved grandmother’s death in an alert from BBC News on his phone. Upon his arrival at Balmoral, he was greeted by his aunt Princess Anne, and recalled that he didn’t see his father and brother until he was in London the next day.

READ MORE: Prince Harry and William face major problem with reunion despite 'missing each other'

Harry was snubbed by his father and brother (Getty Images)

Harry and his father were once close (Getty Images)

Now, it has emerged Harry was reportedly snubbed by King Charles and Prince William because they were having a secret meeting about dealing with the fallout of the Queen’s death. Biographer Robert Hardman makes the shocking claim about the hours following the Queen’s death in his latest book, Charles III: New King. New Court. The Inside Story.

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He claims the King had dinner with William, who had just inherited the title of Prince of Wales as his father ascended to the throne, and they had dinner with Camilla at Charles’ private home on the Balmoral estate. “The King needed to have vital but discreet discussions with his elder son,” Hardman wrote. “In years gone by, such a moment would automatically have included his younger son, too. But not any more.”

The Duke of Sussex stood down as a senior role in 2020 (Getty Images)

Royal insider Hardman claimed Harry was left out of the discussion for fear he was “taking notes for his forthcoming book”, and the new King needed “a clear head and no distractions”. William stayed at his father’s house on the other side of the lavish estate, with Harry staying with the rest of the senior royals at Balmoral.

In his memoir Spare, which was released last year, Harry described his arrival at Balmoral, which was surrounded in controversy as it was claimed his wife Meghan had been banned from accompanying him. He said he was invited to see his grandmother to pay his final respects, and then phoned the Duchess of Sussex, before dining with his aunt Princess Anne, and cousins including Zara Tindall.

Harry was forced to make his way to London solo, as he was shunned by his father and brother. “The quickest way back would’ve been a lift with Pa or Willy… Barring that it was British Airways, departing Balmoral at daybreak. I bought a seat and was among the first to board,” he recalled.

Emma Wilson