King Charles III was not able to meet with his youngest son, Prince Harry, on Wednesday, May 8, due to a "full program" of events. This did not stop His Majesty from taking 15 to 30 mins to meet with football icon David Beckham, even though much was made over a father "snubbing" his son.
"In response to the many inquiries and continued speculation on whether or not the Duke will meet with his father while in the U.K. this week, it, unfortunately, will not be possible due to His Majesty’s full program," a spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex shared on Tuesday, May 7.
Royal insiders are quick to cite that, "like any of the monarch's meetings," these are arranged "months in advance, as Mr. Beckham's was," a palace aide spilled.
This follows earlier reports that suggested Charles III and his courtiers knew about Harry's May 8 appearance at St. Paul's Cathedral "over a month in advance," and the sovereign had let it be known he could "always fit Harry in."
"The King has left the door wide open, but obviously not that wide," a royal source said about the situation. "But they absolutely can stuff things in his diary and juggle things around."
This has led to a large amount of criticism directed the King's way for what was "certainly a snub."
The monarch met with his youngest son on February 6, the day after he told the world he was battling cancer. "We don’t know how that meeting went, but I do know that the King was exhausted and really keen to get off to Balmoral," another royal insider privy to that meeting spilled. "He was desperate to be on his way and was delayed until Harry turned up."
"I was, I have to confess, gobsmacked when I learned that there was to be no meeting between Harry and his father," royal expert Jennie Bond dished. "I was sure that they would find a lot of time actually, but never mind a lot of time — at least a chance to have a cup of tea or an evening drink or breakfast together or something. There must have been a time in the King’s schedule for that."
Beckham has long been an avid supporter of the monarchy and has met and praised the work of the King during his time as Prince of Wales.
The sports icon and his wife, Victoria Beckham, are believed to have once befriended Harry and Meghan Markle, only to watch the friendship disintegrate over petty clothing spats and a Sussex fear of a Beckham upstaging.
GBN reported on the King's meeting with Beckham.