Palace announces joint engagement between the King and Prince William next week – just hours after it emerged monarch would NOT meet with Harry during his whistle-stop UK visit because of his ‘full programme’

Buckingham Palace has announced a joint engagement between the King and Prince William next week after it emerged Charles will not see his other son Harry during the Duke’s UK visit.

Prince Harry met a millionaire financier this evening after admitting King Charles was too busy to meet him in what experts said was a ‘snub’ that reflected the depth of their rift.

Yet now the Palace has announced King Charles will meet with one of his sons – William – on Monday to hand over the role of Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps to the Prince of Wales.

In August 2023, following His Majesty’s Accession, The King was pleased to announce military appointments including that The Prince of Wales would become Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps.

‘The role was previously held by His Majesty The King, as Prince of Wales, for 31 years.’

Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex arrived in the UK alone today after flying in from California for a ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games in London tomorrow.

The Prince had hoped to meet his estranged father the King during his trip, which follows a previous quick visit in February after Charles’s cancer diagnosis. Harry’s event was just three miles away from where Charles was, at Clarence House.

Harry’s spokesman said today: ‘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.’

Instead, as the Duke’s foundation Archewell confirmed, he will meet city financier Guy Monson.

Reacting to the news, royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams said: ‘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.’