Prince Harry and King Charles' sad estrangement behind closed doors and truth on 'snub'

Prince return to the UK for a court hearing may have come as a surprise. But his father, appears to have not shocked many.

After the railed against his dad in his series with and his controversial memoir Spare, relations had been very rocky. But there appeared to be a flicker of light at the end of the tunnel just over a year ago when Charles announced some unexpected news.

After revealing he had been diagnosed with cancer, his youngest son jumped on a plane and dashed to his dad's side, with many hoping it would begin the process of reconciliation. But 14 months later and despite several further visits to the UK by Harry including one this week, it is believed the pair haven't seen each other since - and there could be one sticking point in their fragile bond...

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'30 minute meeting'

When Harry dashed over to the UK to see his dad after his cancer diagnosis last February, many were left puzzled by the brief nature of their meeting. Just 40 minutes after Harry arrived at Clarence House, his father's London home, Charles left to head to Sandringham.

Harry then spent just a few more hours in the UK before boarding a flight back to California. Several weeks later, on a trip to Canada, he was asked about his father in an interview with US TV.

Speaking about his father, Harry said he was told the news by the King himself and jumped on a plane straight away to see him. He said he felt lucky to have been able to visit his dad following the diagnosis and added: "Look I love my family. The fact that I was able to get on a plane and go and see him and spend any time with him I'm grateful for that."

Harry refused to talk about his dad's condition, saying "that stays between us". However, when asked if the diagnosis could have a "reunifying effect" amid their feud, Harry added: "Yeah, I'm sure. Throughout all these families I see it on a day-to-day basis the strength of the family unit coming together. I think any illness, any sickness brings families together."

Invictus 'snub'

Harry's next trip to the UK was a few months later in May when he attended a high-profile service at St Paul's Cathedral to mark 10 years of the Invictus Games.

However, when the Duke landed in the UK, a statement from Harry's spokesperson confirmed he would not be meeting his father, who had a "full programme". It was later reported in the Sunday Times that Harry had asked if he could stay at a royal residence during his UK trip - a request which was said to have been granted by his father, although Harry ultimately stayed in a hotel.

The snub apparently left the King 'crushed' with security issues reportedly the reason why Harry declined his father's offer in the end.

'Shocking' security battle

Several months later, reports then emerged that Harry and his father were no longer speaking, with security named as the reason why. Sources close to the Sussexes claimed that Harry's calls to his dad were going unanswered as he tried to discuss his security arrangements with his father.

Harry has been embroiled in a long-running battle over his security when he comes to the UK after he automatically lost the right to his police protection when he stepped down as a working royal. According to PEOPLE magazine, Harry believes his dad could help to have this reinstated, although this has been dismissed as "wholly inaccurate" by a palace source.

And a friend of Harry's told the magazine at the time: "He gets 'unavailable right now'. His calls go unanswered. He has tried to reach out about the King's health, but those calls go unanswered too." While another friend added: "Harry is frightened and feels the only person who can do anything about it is his father," while another source added: "Harry is determined to protect his own family at all costs."

This week Harry was back in his home country for a two-day Court of Appeal hearing over his UK protection. Harry is challenging the dismissal of his High Court claim against the Home Office over the decision of the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec) that he should receive a different degree of protection when in the UK.

During the private hearing, the Duke said his “worst fears” about the withdrawal of his police protection were confirmed by evidence heard. Speaking with The Telegraph as he left the Royal Courts of Justice, Harry said “people would be shocked by what’s being held back,” adding that his “worst fears have been confirmed by the whole legal disclosure in this case and that’s really sad”.

The newspaper said Harry suggested the decision was an attempt to prevent him and his wife, the Duchess of Sussex, from quitting as working royals and moving abroad – which sources have strongly denied. Harry said: “We were trying to create this happy house.”

Other visits to the UK last year included attending his uncle Lord Robert Fellowes' funeral, which did see him reunited with his estranged brother . However, the pair are not believed to have spoken and nor did Harry meet with his father. No meeting happened when Harry came to the UK for the WellChild Awards in September either.

'Olive branch'

extended an "olive branch" to brother on his recent short visit to the UK, a source close to the estranged royal said. The reportedly chose to deliberately stay near the future king at Coworth Park hotel, in Ascot, , last week.

Harry noticeably decided to stay at the Berkshire during his two-day at the in London. The five-star hotel is a less than 20-minute drive to William and Kate’s residence, Adelaide Cottage, on the grounds of Windsor Castle.

A close friend of Harry claimed his sentimental accommodation choice "was relayed to Wills and Kate through security services" and "was seen as a potential olive branch to make peace after so many years estranged," according to .

to work on his strained relationship with William on his short visit home. This source added: "Harry really is keen to try to salvage some kind of relationship or even reopen dialogue. They have not had any full-length conversations or discussions since they had some time together around the Queen’s passing.

"And some of us saw Harry being so close to his brother as a gesture of saying ‘hey I am here, close by... what about us trying to work things out’? The sad thing is that many of us, within Harry’s friends’ circles, feel he wants to somehow make peace and return to talking terms."

'One man to heal rift'

Harry flew in for the court hearing last Sunday with his time in London overlapping with his father before the King jetted off to Italy for a state visit. And with the pair still seemingly avoiding each other, royal expert and historian Dr Tessa Dunlop believes it's down to one man to bring them together.

She told the : "‘Single parenthood? Pa was never made for that’ claimed Harry in a scathing description of his father before Charles assumed the mantle of kingship. And that description predated the detonation of Harry’s truth-bomb across the Atlantic. Nowadays the man who had ‘always given an air of being not quite ready for parenthood’ appears more detached than ever.

"In among the legal nettles at the Court of Appeal, trying to claim his exceptional need for national security in a country he doesn’t like but can’t do without the Duke’s difficult journey is grist to the mill of that mantra so keenly associated with the late Queen – ‘never complain, never explain’.

"Harry tries to do both, with an absentee father who is less available than ever. While we all applaud Charles’s avuncular appeal in old age, I can’t be the only one who wishes for a paternal gesture of goodwill and forgiveness. He is the King after all, and it is so much easier to be gracious from a position of power."