LANDING IN LONDON FOR INVICTUS EVENT THE DUKE OF SUSSEX

BUT THERE IS NO FAMILY REUNION AS THE KING AND PRINCE OF WALES PURSUE SEPARATE ITINERARIES

- EMILY NASH

As he returned to the UK to celebrate ten years of the Invictus Games Foundation with a service at St Paul’s Cathedral last week, the Duke of Sussex had been expected to meet his father the King, however briefly.

But while his visit brought him within just a couple of miles of His Majesty, they were to remain apart, with a spokesman for the Duke citing the monarch’s busy schedule as the reason.

Prince Harry spent three days in London, catching up with competitors, supporters and friends made since he launched the hugely successful adaptive sports tournament for military veterans.

While the King and Queen hosted the first garden party of the year at Buckingham Palace and the Prince of Wales conducted an investiture at Windsor, the Duke’s uncle and aunt, Earl Spencer and Baroness Fellowes – siblings of Harry’s mother Diana, Princess of Wales – joined him in the cathedral, sitting directly behind him.

Also attending were Harry’s cousins Viscount Althorp and Ned Spencer – both sons of Earl Spencer – and George, son of Diana’s sister Lady Sarah McCorquodale. And the 1,000-strong congregation included former advisors, staff and police protection officers and Harry’s close friend and mentor, Mark Dyer.