Telling four words before blow to Prince Harry amid UK visit

One sentence from the royal camp served as a major signal at what was to come when Harry made his highly-publicised return to the UK.

Prince Harry and King Charles won't be meeting up during the duke's visit to London.

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For a lengthy stint there, it was almost impossible to tell what Prince Harry was thinking.

There was Harry’s declaration of support for the monarchy, amid his heavy criticism of its foundations and structure.

There was Harry’s plea for familial discretion, very literally during an interview promoting his tell-all memoir.

There was Harry (and Meghan) quitting royal duties in a bid for more privacy, before sharing – willingly – some of their most personal secrets across endless platforms.

I could go on.

But as of right now, one thing about his state of mind is absolutely clear: Harry is keen to reconcile with his family.

The very fact that he immediately jumped on a plane to London – the city with which he has a very complicated relationship – to visit his dad as soon as he heard about his cancer diagnosis, speaks volumes.

And it wasn’t an isolated sign on of his softened stance.

Last year, sources from the Sussexes’ camp began hinting that they were looking toward a healing “era” – a report bolstered by their extraordinary statement directly addressing claims they’d been invited to the King’s intimate birthday celebration in November.

“In response to UK media headlines, there has been no contact regarding an invitation to his majesty’s upcoming birthday,” their spokesman told the New York Post.

“It is disappointing the Sunday Times has misreported this story.”

The subtext was obvious: they weren’t asked – and if they had been, they likely wouldn’t have snubbed it. A very different tone to just months earlier, when Harry had insisted that he’d need his family to take “accountability” before he’d consider even making up with them.

That ultimatum, by all accounts, was completely ignored – and yet the Duke of Sussex continues to make it clear he’s had a fairly dramatic change of heart.

Harry is currently back in London. Picture: Justin Tallis/AFP

The King, who recently returned to public-facing duties, is too busy to see his son. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

An argument could certainly be made about lying in the beds we’ve made and reaping what you sow, yada yada, but it’s hard not to feel sympathy for him this week as it becomes abundantly clear just how far his expectations are from reality.

There’s no doubt Charles declining his request for a catch-up while they’re literally two miles away from each other would have come as both a heavy blow and major disappointment.

Recall, just three months ago – and fresh from his visit to see his dad in the UK – Harry’s interview with US breakfast show Good Morning America about his optimistic plans for their future face time.

“I love my family. The fact I was able to get on a plane and go and see him and spend anytime with him? I’m grateful to that … I have got other trips planned that would take me through the UK or back to the UK, so I will stop in and see my family as much as a I can,” he told the reporter.

Clearly, among the “other trips” on his mind at the time included the highly-publicised Invictus Games’ 10 year anniversary service, of which he’s currently back in his home country to take part.

However, that’s not to be – as (rather diplomatically) confirmed by Harry himself just hours ahead of the big event.

“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 program,” the spokesman said.

“The duke of course is understanding of his father’s diary of commitments and various other priorities and hopes to see him soon.”

Harry has made it clear he’s keen to reconcile. Picture: Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage

Perhaps Harry had seen the writing on the wall ahead of his failed attempt to meet up with Charles if he happened to check the news just a few days ago.

Sources told The Mirror that Harry had been in contact with his father ahead of his arrival in the UK, to which the King told him he would certainly do so … but only “if he is able”.

Those four words, really, should have served as a major warning about what was to come.

The royal family may be a business, yet they’re also still a family.

It’s hard to conceive of another scenario where a once-close father and son, grappling with a shock cancer diagnosis and having lived on different continents for four years, would not see each other when once again sharing a city. Even if just for the half-hour afforded to Harry when he last flew back.

From the duke’s own memoir, along with many reports over the years, it’s obvious that the monarch may be the head of an institution – but he is bound by carefully laid-out schedules often dictated by the system around him.

There’s no doubt Charles is busy, and regularly is at the mercy of his pre-planned diary.

But Harry’s attendance at the Invictus Games’ event, and his desire to reconcile with his father, have been on the horizon for some time. Neither of them have come as a surprise.

For all the multiple reports affirming Charles’ unconditional “love” of his son, and eagerness to put the past behind them, it seems he might still be a trifle put out by the many barbs fired his and his wife’s way in recent times, after all.

Back in February, the optimistic prince had told GMA that health struggles, such as his father’s, often sees “the strength of the family unit coming together”.

In this case, it’s clear that’s not quite eventuating how he might have hoped – and you really can’t help feeling a little sorry for him.