Prince Harry was reportedly snubbed from being invited to dinner with King Charles and Prince William, his estranged father and brother, just hours after Queen Elizabeth died, a royal source has claimed.
The Duke of Sussex flew to Aberdeen to see his grandmother after learning that the end was near but she passed away at Balmoral before he got there, on September 8 2022.
Harry and his wife Meghan Markle happened to be at the UK anyway for a charity event, with the Prince later alleging he had learned of her death through a BBC News alert on his phone.
Upon his arrival at the Scottish estate he was met by his aunt Princess Anne, who warmly embraced him before taking him to see the Queen.
Harry was not reunited with Charles and William until they travelled to London the next day, with a new biography claiming the Duke was left out of a secret meeting about dealing with the fallout from the Queen’s death.
Biographer Robert Hardman wrote in his book Charles III: New King. New Court. The Inside Story that William and the King had dinner with Queen Camilla at Birkhall, Charles’s home on the Scottish estate.
He said: “The King needed to have vital but discreet discussions with his elder son. In years gone by, such a moment would automatically have included his younger son, too. But not any more.”
Mr Hardman claimed Harry was left out of the discussion for fear he was “taking notes for his forthcoming book”, and the new King needed “a clear head and no distractions”.
It was claimed that Meghan Markle had been banned from joining her husband due to their ongoing feud with the Firm, however Princess Kate also chose to stay away and be with her children.
That evening Harry dined with his aunt and cousins, including Zara Tindall, and then had to fly commercial to get back to London quickly.
He wrote in his memoir Spare: “The quickest way back would’ve been a lift with Pa or Willy… Barring that it was British Airways, departing Balmoral at daybreak. I bought a seat and was among the first to board.”
