King Charles was reportedly left “bruised” by a statement issued by his son Prince Harry.

King Charles was reportedly “left bruised” by his Prince Harry’s statement (Image: Getty)King Charles was reportedly “left bruised” after Prince Harry unexpectedly announced his decision not to meet with him during a recent UK visit.

Despite the Duke’s request for accommodation being accepted, according to a well-placed palace source.

The relationship between the two royals has been rocky in recent times, exacerbated by Harry’s scathing comments about the Royal family in his tell-all book, Spare.

So when the Duke of Sussex flew into the UK earlier this month for an event celebrating the Invictus Games, hopes were high that father and son might take the opportunity to reconcile, reports the Mirror.

After the King disclosed he was battling cancer in February, Harry was quick to make the journey home and hinted at future meetings in a televised interview.

Prince Harry visited the UK to mark the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games. (Image: Getty)

However, his spokesperson released a statement upon arrival indicating that no such meeting would occur due to his father being occupied with a “full programme”.

Subsequently, an article in the Sunday Times claimed that Harry had requested to stay at a Royal residence for the duration of his visit a wish which the King allegedly agreed to, although Harry ultimately opted for a hotel.

During a discussion on the podcast The Royals with Roya and Kate, Sunday Times Royal editor Roya Nikkhah revealed: “All the narrative from the moment he [Harry] touched down and we got that statement from Harry’s spokesperson saying it’s not possible for Harry to see his father, his father is too busy, he completely understands.

“That set the mood music for the whole week that Harry had said Pa is too busy to see me.

Prince Harry revealed he would not be meeting his father during his UK visit (Image: Getty)

“I just thought something didn’t feel quite right about this, so I dug away and dug away a bit deeper and found out that actually, Harry had asked if he could stay and Charles had said yes, come and stay son.

“You come and stay in a royal residence, you are near where I am so it’s going to be much easier for me to see you given what’s going on with my diary and your diary.

“And that turned everything on its head because the narrative from Harry that I wanted to see my father but he is too busy to see me, actually the reality was Charles said yes please do come and stay in a royal gaff and that would make it much easier for me to see each other.”

The Times assistant editor Kate Mansey then revealed: “Someone at the palace told me that the King was bruised by that statement that Harry put out, which all plays into exactly why.”

Roya added: “The clashing that still remains is that Harry let it be known that he absolutely did ask to see his father, he put in a request well in advance of coming, more than 28 days before the warning he gives to the Home Office for security, absolutely adamant that he did.

Charles’ camp says as far as we are aware, we didn’t get a request. So still recollections may vary.”

In a statement from Harry’s spokesperson, it was revealed that the Duke is looking forward to seeing his father soon.

However, Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams has suggested that “the depth of the rift with the Royal Family has, if anything, deepened after Harry’s recent visit”.

Prince Harry reportedly stopped in a hotel during his UK visit. (Image: Getty)

Fitzwilliams went on to describe the ensuing controversy over whether the King was too busy to meet his son as “utterly bizarre subsequent controversy over whether his father was too busy to meet him which is extremely unhelpful as he needs to project a positive image” and “utterly bizarre subsequent controversy over whether his father was too busy to meet him which is extremely unhelpful as he needs to project a positive image”, given the need for a positive image.

He also offered some advice for the Sussexes on how to “thrive” in the future.

He stated: “If they are to thrive and not just survive they must avoid offending the Royal Family, their attacks have cost both them and the royals’ popularity and made them appear extremely destructive and also hypocritical over the issue of privacy,”.