Harry is forced to admit King Charles is too busy with 'various other priorities' as Duke's reunion hope with his cancer-stricken father is dashed as he flies into Britain for Invictus Games event

Prince Harry was forced to admit his father was too busy to see him after he flew into the UK yesterday.

After weeks of speculation about a reunion, his spokesman announced stiffly that a meeting 'will not be possible due to His Majesty's full programme'.

Harry tried to put a brave face on the situation, saying he understood his father's position and 'hopes to see him soon'. But the news will have come as a crushing blow to the prince, who told US television in February he hoped Charles's illness could 'reunify' the Royal Family.

His spokesman 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.'

Some interpreted the use of the words 'various other priorities' as a thinly-veiled attack on King Charles as prioritising his work over their relationship.

Prince Harry at the Honourable Artillery Company in London

King Charles III leaving Windsor Castle as he heads to Clarence House

But if it was, the palace did not react. Indeed, royal aides have repeatedly declined to comment on anything to do with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for fearing of triggering yet another war of words across the Atlantic. 

However, just hours after Harry's statement, palace officials blithely announced a new joint engagement for Charles and his eldest son William.

It is one of dozens of official engagements being planned for the 75-year-old monarch in the coming months after his doctors gave him the all-clear to undertake more public work once again while continuing his cancer treatment.

While Harry was just three miles – or a 25-minute drive away – on an engagement in east London yesterday, Charles met the prime minister of the Republic of Fiji at Buckingham Palace, before retiring to Clarence House.

Today he again has meetings at Buckingham Palace in the morning before attending the first royal garden party of the season in the afternoon, followed by his weekly audience with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and a Privy Council meeting well into the evening. 

Tomorrow he is expected at an as-yet unannounced engagement outside London. It is not believed that Harry was encouraged to put out a statement himself because there is little in the way of communications between the palace and his people.

Prince Harry onstage at an Invictus Games event

But it no doubt became clear the continued speculation about family relations would continue to overshadow the work he has come here to do. 

The 39-year-old prince, who remains fifth in line to the throne despite quitting royal duties and the UK, is in London for several days for engagements centred around the Paralympic-style Invictus Games, which he founded in 2014 for injured service personnel.

Yesterday he attended an event to mark the legacy of the games and today will give a reading at a St Paul's Cathedral service to mark the event's tenth anniversary. Media close to the Sussexes had suggested he also 'fervently' wished to see his father while he was here.

Harry has travelled alone, apart from his personal security guards, after claiming he does not feel safe bringing his family to the UK amid a continuing row with the Home Office following its decision to strip him of his round-the-clock Metropolitan Police protection when he left Britain.

He managed to fly into the country unobserved and his arrival came to light only when media favourable to the Sussexes were tipped off that he was attending a private panel discussion with TV presenter Louise Minchin at the Honourable Artillery Company. 

He was said by sources to have had further sessions in the afternoon – including meeting business chief Sir Keith Mills, the former Invictus Games chairman – followed by a private dinner.

It has not been confirmed whether he came in on a scheduled, commercial flight, or flew by private jet from his home in California, or indeed where he is staying.

However it is not believed to be in a royal residence. Harry has as no official home in the country after being asked to leave Frogmore, his and Meghan's Windsor home.

He is understood to have been staying in hotels or with friends during his occasional visits.

According to reports, he plans to remain in the UK until tomorrow before flying to Nigeria where he will meet up with his wife for a quasi-royal tour, ostensibly to highlight the Invictus Games as well. 

There are no plans for him to meet his estranged brother, Prince William, who is focusing on his wife, Catherine, Princess of Wales, who is herself undergoing preventative chemotherapy for cancer and is recovering from serious abdominal surgery in January. William is also due to undertake an investiture today and tomorrow will fly to Cornwall for further official engagements.

Harry had not seen his father in person for 17 months before insisting he would fly to London in February after news of his cancer diagnosis was publicly announced.

The King, who had been in London and undergoing treatment for his undisclosed form of cancer, was about to leave to recuperate at Sandringham and was able to see him only for around half an hour.

Charles's decision to focus on his health and his work was predicted by the Mail back in November when it was revealed that while the subject of Harry is one that brings him 'great pain', he is determined to put it to one side, for now.

It is understood there is still widespread family anger at the anguish many believe Harry caused the late Queen in her final years, not to mention the insults heaped on family members including the Princess of Wales and Queen Camilla.

It was also revealed that Charles was determined to stick to his guns and reject his son's demand for an apology about the way he believes he and Meghan were treated.