Prince Harry was reportedly offered a room at Buckingham Palace during his last trip to the UK in May, but he turned it down and stayed in a hotel.
The 39-year-old Duke of Sussex travelled to Britain to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games, before flying to Nigeria with his wife Meghan, 43, for an almost royal tour.
It was previously reported that Harry had asked his father to stay in a royal residence during the trip, but changed his mind and opted for a hotel instead.
But now it is alleged the prince was offered rooms at Buckingham Palace while his father stayed at nearby Clarence House, the Times.
Harry did not see his father, King Charles, 75, during the trip. The duke issued a statement saying the king did not have time to meet him.
The Duke of Sussex, 39, travelled to Britain in May to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games
King Charles III speaks to guests attending a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace on the same day Harry was in the UK
Harry and Meghan are currently on a quasi-royal tour of Colombia that will last four days
It is reported that at the time of the trip there were rooms available in several royal residences, but it was previously unknown what accommodation the palace offered.
A source told the Times: “I don’t know what more the king could have done. He offered Harry to stay at Buckingham Palace, but even that didn’t seem good enough.
‘It was far from clear what the Duke’s plans were. When it came down to it, there was no space in the King’s diary between the treatment and other planned events.’
They added: ‘It makes Harry’s decision to stay in a hotel all the more strange, given that the palace naturally provides all the security you could wish for.
‘It would also have made more sense from the point of view of meeting his father, as it would have been easier for the king to see his son if they were staying nearby.’
Expectations had been growing that the 39-year-old would be with his 75-year-old father for the first time since Harry suddenly travelled to Britain after hearing that the king was being treated for an undisclosed form of cancer.
Sources in Harry’s camp say he had informed his father of an intention to see him during the trip. However, those within the royal circle insist no advance notice was given by the Duke, despite the request for shelter.
Sources close to Harry said a request to see his father had been made well in advance of the visit, which had been “on the agenda for a long time”.
It is now claimed that the Prince was offered rooms at Buckingham Palace while his father stayed at nearby Clarence House
The Sussexes arrive in Colombia – touching down in the capital Bogota – for their four-day royal tour, which comes in all but name, three months after their visit to Nigeria.
Prince Harry shakes hands with Ms Marquez as a smiling Meghan looks on. The Duke and Duchess stayed at the residence for half an hour, where the Vice President expressed her thanks for the couple’s official visit
Meghan Markle is seen smiling broadly as she greets Colombian Vice President Francia Márquez in Bogota
Under royal protocols, the Duke must give the King and the Home Office 28 days’ notice before requesting security.
But while the king reportedly approved a request from Harry to stay at a royal residence, the visit never took place. According to sources, the estranged duke has never seen his father despite the request.
Friends of the Duke claimed that Charles would not make time in his diary for his son, after Harry’s representatives issued a statement on the matter.
A spokesman for the Duke claimed Charles was too busy to see his son: ‘Unfortunately, due to His Majesty’s busy schedule, that will not be possible.
‘The Duke obviously understands his father’s diary commitments and various other priorities, and he hopes to see him again soon.’
The King had a busy schedule while his son was in the city, including a visit to Buckingham Palace and his weekly audience with the Prime Minister on the same day as the Invictus Thanksgiving event and a visit to a military barracks.
Earlier that year, Harry had rushed to the UK to visit his father after the King called to tell him he had cancer.
The couple met briefly at Clarence House before the King flew to Sandringham, where he spent much of his time while receiving treatment.
Dominic Reid, Director of the Invictus Games Foundation, and Prince Harry at the Honourable Artillery Company in London in May
King Charles III is pictured with papers in his hands as he arrives at Clarence House in London, as Harry is about to leave
It is not yet clear when Harry, who is currently on a four-day trip to Colombia with his wife Meghan, will see his father again.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were welcomed to the South American country and subsequently visited a school to discuss the impact of social media.
Harry and Meghan were received yesterday in the capital Bogota by Colombian Vice President Francia Marquez, who invited the couple after watching their Netflix documentary series, and her husband Rafael Yerney Pinillo.
After arriving in Colombia, the couple spent about half an hour at the Vice President’s residence, where they exchanged welcome gifts and were offered tea, coffee and traditional pandebono (Colombian cheese bread).
The Sussexes are being given extensive security during their visit, along with Mrs Marquez, who has invited the couple on what is being described as a DIY royal tour, following a similar trip to Nigeria.
Over the next four days, the Sussexes will visit the city of Bogotá before heading to Cartagena and Cali as part of a ‘cultural and social’ visit.
Harry will also meet with members of Team Colombia who are competing in the Invictus Games and preparing for the 2025 Games in Whistler, Canada.
Representatives for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been contacted for comment.
