Prince Harry is expected to become King Charles III. call because he turns 75 today.
But the Duke of Sussex and his family will not travel to London, where his father is holding a small celebratory gathering at Clarence House this evening.
The king’s 75th birthday will be a working day for the monarch, marked by gun salutes across the capital. Charles will join the Queen in officially launching the Coronation Food Project, which aims to close the gap between food waste and food demand.
Last week, Harry reignited his public war of words with the royal family, declaring that he had had “no contact” with Buckingham Palace during the king’s 75th birthday celebrations.
But it looks like there will be an olive branch from Montecito later today, with a phone this afternoon or evening due to the time difference in California.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, will call his father today to mark his 75th birthday, well-informed sources claim
Charles will be working today, joining the Queen in officially launching the Coronation Food Project, which aims to close the gap between food waste and food demand. He was presented with a cake in Highgrove yesterday
A “well-informed” source told the BBC that Harry wants to speak to his father on his big day.
The King is expected to celebrate his milestone birthday privately with family and friends this evening.
At midday, the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, named after Charles’ grandfather, King George VI, will fire a 41-gun salute from London’s Green Park. An hour later, the Honorable Artillery Company will fire a 62-gun salute at Tower Wharf, Tower of London – a further 21 for the City of London.
Last week, Harry reignited his public war of words with the royal family, declaring that he had had “no contact” with Buckingham Palace during the king’s 75th birthday celebrations.
His spokesman denied reports that Harry had declined an invitation to a family gathering at Clarence House this evening, saying: “There has been no contact regarding an invitation to His Majesty’s upcoming birthday.”
But Buckingham Palace refused to discuss the king’s plans.
A “source close to the Sussexes” told the Mail that the couple were unaware the royal was holding a celebration until the Sunday Times made the claim.
The newspaper reported that the King had invited Harry, but the Duke of Sussex “is not making the trip from California.” It was also said that he had “rejected the offer to spend some time with his father at Balmoral in the summer”.
A “friend” of the Sussexes even suggested the story was leaked to divert attention from the king and queen’s visit to Kenya last week, where His Majesty faced calls to apologize for Britain’s colonial past.
They told the Mail: “The story is being positioned to make it look like the Duke is snubbing his father, which he is not.” Given that the trip (to Kenya) didn’t go well, this could be one be a welcome distraction.’ This was despite the trip being seen as a diplomatic success for both Britain and Kenya.
Prince Harry (pictured center with his wife at the Queen’s funeral) has reportedly not spoken to his father, King Charles III, in a long time. The Duke of Sussex’s spokesman has denied snubbing his father’s 75th birthday
Prince Harry (pictured left) and Meghan Markle (pictured right) have not been spoken to by Buckingham Palace about the party, their spokesman said
In order to calm tensions, palace circles remained tight-lipped about the Sussexes. Communication between the king and his youngest son is negligible and non-existent between Harry and his brother William.
Charles and Camilla will today visit a surplus food distribution center outside London and meet staff and volunteers to learn how food waste can be used for social good.
Charles will also host a reception at Buckingham Palace as part of the NHS 75 celebrations, highlighting the work of nurses and midwives over the decades.
Guests will include around 400 nurses and midwives, alongside Chief Nursing Officer of England Dame Ruth May and Amanda Pritchard, Chief Executive of NHS England.
Birthday celebrations for the king began early as he was guest of honor at a party in the grounds of his home in Highgrove, Gloucestershire, on Monday.
Charles joined a wide range of people, from loyal community members nominated by friends and relatives who also turned 75 this year, to representatives of organizations celebrating the same milestone, from the NHS to members of the Windrush -Generation.
Famous faces at the event included celebrity chef Raymond Blanc, The Repair Shop presenter Jay Blades and singer Leee John from 1980s group Imagination.
Charles Philip Arthur George was born on November 14, 1948 at Buckingham Palace.
After his birth – the first at the royal residence since 1886 – his father, the late Duke of Edinburgh, went to Caxton Hall To the event.