King Charles is set to bestow a new title upon his son and heir Prince William, as they will attend a joint engagement next week which will see William become Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps, a role the King has held for 31 years.
This is the same regiment that Prince Harry toured Afghanistan with, as he had been expected to take on the role until he quit the Royal Family back in 2020.
This was the second blow dealt to Harry by his father yesterday, after his spokesperson announced in a statement that the King’s busy schedule would prevent him from seeing his son during his London trip.
One royal source told the Daily Mail that “timing is everything”, while another expert said that Charles’s decision not to see the Duke of Sussex “will be widely perceived as a snub”.
Harry flew into London yesterday in preparation for a service at St Paul’s Cathedral later today to celebrate ten years since the first Invictus Games was held in 2014.
Although he and his father will be only three miles apart His Majesty’s programme is apparently too full for a meeting, as he attends the first Buckingham Palace garden party of the season.
Harry’s spokesperson 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.”
On Tuesday afternoon Harry was at the Honourable Artillery Company in London for the Invictus summit Realising Global Community.
Meanwhile King Charles was just down the road at Clarence House before holding an audience at Buckingham Palace with Sitiveni Rabuka, the Prime Minister of Fiji.
In the evening he enjoyed dinner with city financier Guy Monson rather than catching up with Harry.
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told MailOnline: “This, whatever the logistics, will be widely perceived as a snub.
“This is one of the most public rifts in the world. If it was handled in private without so much press speculation, it would have a better chance of being resolved.”
Former BBC royal correspondent Michael Cole agreed, adding: “It is quite a snub. For the King to not see his younger son, Prince Harry, although the two men will be only two miles apart tomorrow afternoon, gives an indication of the depth of the divide.
“The Prodigal Son is not welcome – not for the present, anyway. In royal terms, this is big medicine. Prince Harry is bound to see it for what it is, the clearest possible indication of the hurt that has been caused.
“There can be no mistake: this is a royal flea in the ear for the fifth in line to the throne. Actions have consequences but rarely are they played out as starkly as they are here.”
