DI'S FAMILY BACKS HARRY
Prince Harry backed by Diana’s brother and sister at Invictus party after ‘busy’ King Charles ‘snubbed’ meeting
Harry had been keen to meet his dad on a three-day UK visit
PRINCE Harry was backed by Princess Diana’s siblings at his Invictus bash yesterday — after being snubbed by his dad King Charles.
Earl Spencer and Lady Jane Fellowes joined him at the St Paul’s Cathedral ceremony.
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The King was just two miles away but too busy to meet Harry.
The Duke of Sussex hugged his late mum’s brother and sister Earl Spencer, 59, and Lady Jane Fellowes, 67, outside St Paul’s Cathedral ahead of a service marking ten years of his Invictus Games.
Three cousins — George McCorquodale, 39, Louis Spencer, 30, and Lara Spencer, 18 — sat in a row behind Harry.
Just down the road, the King, Queen Camilla and royals mingled among 8,000 guests on the Palace lawns.
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Harry had been keen to meet his dad on a three-day UK visit, but on Tuesday his office said it was not possible due to the King’s busy diary.
A decade ago Charles, Camilla and Prince William had joined Harry at the first Invictus Games in London.
Yesterday, Earl Spencer and Baroness Fellowes supported him at the hour-long service followed by a drinks reception in the St Paul’s crypt.
Harry arrived at 5pm and greeted his aunt and uncle before taking his seat.
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He gave a reading, as did actor Damian Lewis. Ingrid Seward, editor of Majesty magazine and friend of Diana, said the Spencers’ presence was significant.
She said: “They are very supportive of Harry and always have been.
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“It sends a clear signal to the Royal Family and to Harry that Diana’s family are there for him.
“At his address at Diana’s funeral, Charles Spencer said he would look out for William and Harry in her place.
'Sucked up by the Royal Family'
“He said ‘We your blood family will do all we can to continue the imaginative way in which you were steering theses two exceptional young men so that their souls are not simply immersed by duty and tradition but can sing openly as you had planned’.
“Charles Spencer wanted the Spencer family to be prominent above all others, but the boys were sucked up by the Royal Family.
"Now that Harry has left the Royal Family, the Spencers have laid claim to him again.”
The King, back to public duties despite cancer treatment, led the royals at Buckingham Palace from 4pm.
Prince Harry's statement in full
A spokesperson for Prince Harry 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."
Also on the lawns were Princess Anne, Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Edward and Sophie, plus the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.
The only working royals missing were the Prince and Princess of Wales.
William had conducted an investiture in Windsor earlier in the day, and Kate is not carrying out public duties due to her own cancer fight.
The Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra were missing as they are carrying out less engagements due to their frailty.
It sends a clear signal to the Royal Family and to Harry that Diana’s family are there for him
Ingrid Seward
Applause erupted from the crowds as the royal party arrived on the Palace terrace.
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The King then began greeting charity heroes with warm handshakes and big smiles. He was heard saying: “I’m not doing badly”. Asked ‘How are you feeling?’, he replied: “Not too bad.”
He chatted with Royal Commonwealth Society members plus Team GB’s synchronised swimming team — promising to watch them at the Paris Olympics.
In all, he spent around an hour with guests despite doctors “calibrating” his engagements.
This morning he will meet the 3 Royal School of Military Engineering (3RSME) at Gibraltar Barracks in Surrey.
He and Harry have not seen each other since February when the US-based Duke flew 5,000 miles following his father’s diagnosis.
WILLS ON DUTY AT WINDSOR
PRINCE William was just 25 miles away from Harry as he dished out gongs yesterday.
England goalkeeping heroes Mary Earps and Peter Shilton both picked up honours.
Shilton, 74, discussed England men’s Euros prospects with Wills as he was made a CBE.
He told reporters in Windsor: “I think we can win it. You just need a bit of luck . . . a bad referee decision.”
Earps, 31, was made an MBE for her services to football.
She said it will be the highlight of her season when she plays for Man United against Tottenham in the Women’s FA Cup final on Sunday.
The pair then spoke for just 30 minutes. Today is Harry’s last in the UK before he and wife Meghan visit Nigeria for Invictus events.
He is currently appealing a decision to remove his automatic right to 24-hour armed police in the UK, stripped after Megxit.
One guard sat in the front row of the cathedral, while ex-Barack Obama bodyguard Christopher Sanchez watched on six feet behind the Duke.
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Harry wore four medals on his chest including one awarded from his gran, Queen Elizabeth II for services to the monarchy.
But for the second time in recent weeks he failed to wear his King’s Coronation Medal.
Harry & the King can't play happy families with such huge public attention, says The Sun's Matt Wilkinson
By Matt Wilkinson, Royal Editor
Prince Harry is in London but he won’t meet his father The King.
The Duke of Sussex arrived from LA alone without Meghan or their children for a busy diary of events marking 10 years of his Invictus Games.
Before setting off from California it is understood Harry was said to have been "keen’ to see the King for only the second time since his cancer diagnosis.
It is rather telling that confirmation there will be no meeting has come from the Office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex rather than Buckingham Palace.
His team say "it unfortunately will not be possible due to His Majesty’s full program".
They add: "The Duke of course is understanding of his father’s diary of commitments and various other priorities and hopes to see him soon."
Now, the word that jumps out is "priorities".
The King, we understand, is busy as he returns to public duty.
For instance, on Tuesday while Harry was in London the King was carrying out his constitutional duty and meeting the Prime Minister of Fiji at the palace.
He is also set to host a palace garden party and weekly audience with the Prime Minister on Wednesday.
And Harry’s diary is packed full for three days with Invictus. However, they will be at times just two miles apart and risk even driving past each other on London’s roads.
Some observers may see this as "sad" that father and son cannot find time.
Others may say that it’s understandable as both have work commitments and "priorities".
But maybe there has just been too much water under the bridge for father and son to play happy families amid such huge public attention.
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