Prince Harry cut a lonely figure as he arrived at St Paul’s Cathedral – while his father the King was two miles away, hosting guests at Buckingham Palace. And royal watchers spotted something telling about Harry’s attire
Prince Harry appeared to take aim at his father during his appearance at St Paul’s Cathedral on Wednesday.
The Duke has returned to the UK to celebrate 10 years of the Invictus Games – but was told at the start of his brief visit that he would be unable to see the King because of the monarch’s busy schedule. Tellingly, Harry was alone when he arrived shortly before 5pm for the service. There were no other royals in attendance; King Charles and Queen Camilla, along with other prominent royals, were instead two miles away mingling with guests at the first Buckingham Palace garden party of the year.
It seems clear that the gulf between Harry and his family is wider than ever – and royal watchers were quick to notice a seeming ‘snub’ as the Prince stepped out solo.
Harry, dressed in a suit, wore four medals on his chest including one awarded by his late grandmother, the Queen. He also donned his KCVO Neck Order and Star – given for service to the monarchy and awarded as part of the Royal Victorian Order. But for the second time in recent weeks he failed to wear his King’s Coronation Medal.
The medal was given to 400 recipients involved in the Coronation ceremonies and processions, as well as serving members of the Armed Forces and emergency service workers.
At the end of April, Harry presented a military award via video, filmed by the backdoor of his Montecito home. He wore the same four medals as he did on Wednesday – and again the Coronation Medal was missing.
On both occasions, he put on his Operational Service Medal for Afghanistan, which he earned in 2008 for his service in Helmand Province, the late Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal, which was awarded in 2002 to everyone who had been in active service for five years, Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, which was given to members of the emergency services, Armed Forces, prison service, and the royal household in 2012, and the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal.
Similarly, Harry did not wear the Coronation medal when he delivered a video monologue for Stand Up For Heroes in New York last November.
Harry was last in the UK in February when he met with King Charles for a flying visit following the monarch’s cancer diagnosis. The journey from the US took Harry more than 10 hours – but his meeting with his father at Clarence House in London lasted less than 60 minutes.
There had been speculation of a reunion this time around. But the King’s failure to see his son suggests a deep rift and a sign that “their relationship is terminally damaged”, according to royal expert Jennie Bond. “In a sensible world, Harry would stay with his dad at Clarence House – they could have cosy chats in perfect privacy and with all the security Harry wants.”
Jennie offered insights into Harry’s relationship with his older brother Prince William, saying: “As regards William, that does appear to be a terminally damaged relationship.
“In a way, it seems the boot is now very much on the other foot. Previously it was Harry who was the ‘victim’ looking for an apology for all his perceived grievances. Now those grievances must seem utterly trivial (even to Harry) in the face of a very real problem: cancer.”
Highlighting the gravity of the situation, she added: “Kate and William are involved in a frightening fight and I don’t think they have the will or the strength to confront someone, even a brother, who picked a fight over issues that seem pathetic by comparison.
“William is doing everything he possibly can to protect his wife and I very much doubt that they want to deal with ‘the Harry problem’ right now, if ever.”
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