Prince Harry has arrived at St. Paul's Cathedral for a service honoring his Invictus Games tournament for veterans after acknowledging he will not see his father, King Charles III, during his trip to the United Kingdom.
The Duke of Sussex was booed the last time he, alongside Meghan Markle, attended St. Paul's in June 2022 for a service honoring Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee.
However, he did not let that experience put him off as he entered the historic London cathedral on Wednesday for a special service marking 10 years of his tournament for injured veterans.
And the crowd could be heard cheering loudly as Harry arrived in a Range Rover, waving in both directions as he climbed the steps.
No senior royals are expected to attend but Princess Diana's family did show up to support Harry, with her brother Charles Spencer, Harry's uncle, and sister Jane Fellowes, Harry's aunt, both seen arriving.
Actor Damian Lewis, who starred in Homeland, will recite a poem at the service and Harry is expected to give a reading.
WATCH: Prince Harry has arrived at St Paul's Cathedral for the @WeAreInvictus 10th Anniversary service pic.twitter.com/aiiay6mMrx
— Lizzie Robinson (@LizzieITV) May 8, 2024
There was widespread speculation in the British media that Charles and Harry would see each other due to them being a few miles apart from one another, particularly in light of the fact the king is still undergoing treatment for cancer.
However, the Sussex team revealed that Charles had not found time for Harry owing to his packed schedule and "various other priorities."
King Charles had a meeting with U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in his diary on Wednesday and hosted a garden party at Buckingham Palace in the afternoon.
A spokesperson for Harry said on Tuesday: "In response to the many inquiries and continued speculation on whether or not the duke will meet with his father while in the U.K. 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 night, as he climbed into a car, Prince Harry swerved a question from a journalist who asked him: "Harry, are you happy to be home?"
The duke replied: "Hello, hi," and laughed awkwardly.
Jack Royston is Newsweek's chief royal correspondent based in London. You can find him on X, formerly Twitter, at @jack_royston and read his stories on Newsweek's The Royals Facebook page.
Do you have a question about King Charles III, William and Kate, Meghan and Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email royals@newsweek.com. We'd love to hear from you.
Update 05/08/24, 12:05 p.m. ET: This article was updated with a new headline and additional information.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Jack Royston is Newsweek's Chief Royal Correspondent based in London, U.K. He reports on the British royal family—including King Charles ... Read more
