Prince Harry has arrived at St Paul’s Cathedral for a service of thanksgiving to celebrate the 10th anniversary of his Invictus Games.
The Duke of Sussex joined a congregation of around a thousand inside the London landmark where he is due to give a bible reading.
Harry arrived back in the UK yesterday afternoon, though he was accompanied by his wife Meghan Markle, 42, or their children, Archie and Lilibet.
There was speculation Harry may have seen Charles but the spokesman said that the monarch’s “full programme” meant the get-together would not happen.
His appearance at St Paul’s comes hours after he was dealt a second blow in the space of 24 hours after Buckingham Palace announced Prince William would be made colonel-in-chief of the Army Air Corps – Harry’s old regiment.
William will take over the position, which is currently held by King Charles, next week despite Harry having served in the regiment during his tour of active duty in Afghanistan in 2014.
The fifth in line to the throne has not been in the country since February when he met with the King for a flying visit following the monarch’s cancer diagnosis.
In pictures: The Duke of Sussex arrives at St Paul’s Cathedral
Prince Harry waved as he arrived to attend a ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games, at St Paul’s Cathedral in central London.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain8 May 2024 17:26
Lioness honoured by Prince William at Windsor Castle
The athlete, 31, received the recognition in honour of her sporting achievements and looked delighted as she spoke with the Prince, 41.
She was given the honour alongside other VIPs including celebrated film director Ridley Scott, who was made a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire.
Today is a busy day for the royal family, with King Charles hosting a garden party at Buckingham Palace this afternoon.
Prince Harry, meanwhile, is giving a speech at a thanksgiving service at St Paul’s Cathedral in London to mark the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games.
Emma Guinness8 May 2024 15:32
King Charles and Prince Harry’s ‘diary’ clash revealed
King Charles and Prince Harry won’t meet up on Wednesday due to a timetable clash between a royal garden party and an Invictus Games event, it can be revealed.
Harry is in London this week, celebrating 10 years of the Invictus Games. He will host a St Paul’s cathedral thanksgiving ceremony on Wednesday evening.
The King, however, is understood to be hosting a garden party at Buckingham Palace at 4pm – where guests can enjoy some of the warmest weather of the year so far, meaning the pair are unable to meet.
Emma Guinness8 May 2024 11:42
Prince William given military honour in second snub for Harry
The heir to the throne, 41, will be given the honour on Monday (13 May), Buckingham Palace has announced.
According to reports, the honour would have likely passed to Prince Harry, 39 – a former Apache helicopter pilot who, unlike Prince William, personally served with the Army Air Corps in Afghanistan.
However, this was not possible after he stepped down as a working royal in 2020.
Like Harry, William is also a trained pilot and previously worked as a search and rescue and air ambulance pilot.
The news comes after a spokesperson for Prince Harry revealed that the King, 75, does not have time to see him on his current visit to the UK after he landed back on British soil yesterday (7 May).
A spokesman for the Duke of Sussex 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.”
Emma Guinness8 May 2024 09:10
Harry to give speech in St Paul’s Cathedral today
Prince Harry has not been in the country since February when he met with the King for a flying visit following the monarch’s cancer diagnosis.
He is scheduled to give a speech on Wednesday (8 May) to mark the anniversary of the games he founded in 2014 at a thanksgiving ceremony in St Paul’s Cathedral.
His arrival was announced by royal editor Chris Ship on Twitter (X), who revealed Harry will also be attending some Invictus-related events today.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain8 May 2024 07:00
Queen tells children ‘the more books you read, the more you’re going to learn’ as she opens new school library
The Queen opened a new school library as she told excited pupils reading will open doors and make a “huge difference” for them in life.
Camilla told children at Moreland Primary School in Islington, London, “the more books you read, the more you’re going to learn”.
The royal’s proud history of contributions to literacy initiatives was honoured through the opening of the library and part of the Coronation Libraries Project.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain8 May 2024 06:00
Prince Harry will not meet with King Charles on visit
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.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain8 May 2024 05:00
King Charles cancer diagnosis: The history of illnesses in the Royal Family
In February, King Charles shared he had been diagnosed with cancer following treatment for a benign enlarged prostate.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain8 May 2024 04:00
Princess Beatrice gives rare update on Sarah Ferguson’s cancer diagnosis
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.”
Maryam Zakir-Hussain8 May 2024 02:00
Prince Harry sets out UK trip plans as King to miss reunion
The Duke of Sussex joked about his plans during his trip to the UK as his spokesperson confirmed he would not be reuniting with King Charles III during his visit.
Harry is in the UK celebrating the 10th anniversary of his Paralympic-style tournament for wounded veterans and serving military.
He joked during an Invictus summit event he would be spending the evening having dinner with former Invictus Games Foundation trustee Guy Monson.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain8 May 2024 01:00