King Charles appears to have snubbed his estranged son, Prince Harry, in the latest sign of the Duke of Sussex's dramatic rift with the royal family.
The monarch was reportedly too busy to meet with his son, who was in Britain for a rare visit to honor the Invictus Games, a sporting event for wounded veterans that Harry founded.
Harry has grown estranged from Buckingham Palace since laying down his royal duties in 2020 and moving to America with his wife, Meghan Markle. The couple has fiercely criticized the royal family in media interviews and a tell-all memoir, Spare.
The highly publicized rift, dubbed Megxit, is continuing to place the royal family under scrutiny as King Charles battles cancer.
Harry traveled to England this week, but his father was reportedly unable to pencil in time for him.
"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 program," a spokesperson for Harry said.
"The Duke, of course, is understanding of his father's diary of commitments and various other priorities and hopes to see him soon."
In another perceived snub, the King's schedule included a ceremony to name his elder son, heir to the throne Prince William, as the commander of the military regiment that Harry once served in, the Army Air Corps.
Harry would have received the honor had he not stepped aside from royal duties, the Independent reported.
“His Majesty the King will officially hand over the role of Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales,” the palace said in a statement.
Harry was reportedly "in tears" over the snub, according to Royal expert Tom Quinn, who speculated the royal family is sending a clear message that Harry is cut out for good.
Quinn called the news "a real kick in the teeth for the son who always felt marginalized and underrated."
"But they have decided the gloves are off and that Harry needs to realize that when you betray the family, you don’t just escape the things you hated doing as a working royal. You also lose the things you loved."
The King's engagements also included a garden party at Buckingham Palace - just two miles away from St. Paul's Cathedral, where Prince Harry made an appearance to celebrate the Invictus Games.
Harry neglected to wear the medal his father gave him at his coronation, in what some see as a swipe back at the king.
