Prince Harry says King ‘too busy’ to meet as he arrives in UK without Meghan – live

The Duke of Sussex “hopes” to see his father “soon” after the King’s “full programme” meant a reunion was not possible during Harry’s UK trip to celebrate his Invictus Games.

Harry has travelled to London to mark the 10th anniversary of his Paralympic-style tournament for wounded veterans and serving military but will not cap his visit by sitting down with his father.

The former working royal joked during an Invictus summit event he would be spending the evening having dinner with former Invictus Games Foundation trustee Guy Monson.

The pair last met soon after the King announced his cancer diagnosis in February and his son, who now lives with his family in California, rushed from America to see his father.

A spokesperson for the duke said: “In response to the many inquiries and continued speculation on whether or not the duke will meet with his father while in the UK this week, 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.”

The Queen told children “the more books you read, the more you’re going to learn” as she opened a new school library which she said would make a “huge difference” to pupils.

Camilla told excited children at Moreland Primary School in Islington, London: “The more you’re going to learn the more you’re going to get on in life.

“It’s so important to keep reading.”

The library’s opening is part of the Coronation Libraries Project which honours the Queen’s significant contributions to literacy initiatives and her encouragement for children to embrace reading.

The Duke of Sussex “hopes” to see his father “soon” after the King’s “full programme” meant a reunion was not possible during Harry’s UK trip to celebrate his Invictus Games.

Harry has travelled to London to mark the 10th anniversary of his Paralympic-style tournament for wounded veterans and serving military but will not cap his visit by sitting down with his father.

The pair last met soon after the King announced his cancer diagnosis in February and his son, who now lives with his family in California, rushed from America to see his father.

The British actor, 50, praised the 75-year-old monarch for being candid about his cancer diagnosis as she reflected on her own relationship with cancer in her family.

While attending the King’s Trust Gala in New York City on 2 May, the Underworld star said she’s “impressed” with “how open” Charles has been about his health.

The Princess, 35, gave the first update on her mother since January when it was announced that the Duchess of York, 64, had skin cancer following the removal of several moles.

At the time, the Duchess was said to be “undergoing further investigations to ensure that it has been caught in the early stages.”

There, he will be joined by his wife, Meghan Markle, who is expected to fly to fly directly from California.

The couple’s visit will be to mark the 10th anniversary of The Invictus Games, which Harry is currently acknowledging in the UK.

His wife is reported to have chosen to “skip” the UK part of the celebrations.

In Nigeria, Harry and Meghan are expected to give talks about the event for wounded, injured and sick service people, which the Prince founded back in 2014.

While the couple are reported to be funding their own travel, a spokesperson for Nigeria’s Ministry of Information and National Orientation said that they will likely be given free accommodation from the government.

It is not known if they will be accompanied on the trip by their children, Archie and Lilibet.

The Duke of Sussex arrived back in the UK today from his home in California to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the games he founded in 2014.

In snaps of today’s celebration, he can be seen smiling with Dominic Reid OBE and CEO of the Invictus Games Foundation.

The Prince was also photographed speaking with Pikemen and Musketeers at the Honourable Artillery Company.

This was all part of an event from The Invictus Games Foundation Conversation titled “Realising a Global Community”.

The representative for the Duke of Sussex, 39, said that a reunion will not be possible because of the Monarch’s busy schedule following his return to duty last week.

“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,” they said.

Harry and the King last saw each other for a reported 45 minutes in February following news of Charles’s cancer diagnosis breaking.

Located at Moreland Primary School, the new facility was transformed in the year since King Charles’s coronation by the National Literacy Trust, of which the Queen Consort is a patron.

Prince Harry, meanwhile, is attending Invictus Games-related events after arriving back in London this afternoon for the 10th anniversary of the event.

A royal expert has opened up about the ‘telling sign’ Prince Harry will be alone at his first public-facing event in some time.

The Duke of Sussex is set to give a thanksgiving speech at a ceremony celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games and it is believed he will not be joined by any members of the royal family.

He will also be without the support of his wife Meghan Markle and their two children, who remain in the US.

The games, which celebrates the sporting abilities of wounded, sick or injured veterans, was founded by the fifth in line to the throne back in 2015.

Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond said: “He’s here to celebrate the Invictus Games… and rightly so, it is a great achievement.

“But how telling it will be to see him there without a single member of the royal family present to salute his achievement. It will be a graphic illustration of what he has done to the family he still professes to love.”