Real reason King Charles was 'too busy' to see Prince Harry - and it relates to late Queen

The real reason King Charles snubbed Prince Harry during his UK visit has seemingly been revealed.

The monarch wasn't able to meet up with his youngest son when he was back in the UK last week before flying to Nigeria with wife Meghan Markle.

Despite being just a couple of miles from each other, Harry and the King did not see each other during the Duke's time back in his country of birth.

At the time, Harry's spokesman revealed that father and son could not catch up due to the King's busy schedule of royal engagements.

Now it's been revealed that one of those items of business was rewarding the senior peer who masterminded the late Queen Elizabeth II's funeral and Charles' Coronation - the Duke of Norfolk.

The Duke, Edward Fitzalan-Howard, holds the rank of the highest ranking duke and most senior peer in Britain.

Therefore it's his duty to organise sovereigns' state funerals and the accession and coronations of new monarchs.

Eddie Norfolk's grandfather was responsible for the Queen's Coronation in 1953 and he spent 20 years arranging the late Queen's funeral.

He was controversially overlooked in the New Years Honours, but the King presented him with a silver gilt Coronation Cup on May 7 during a private meeting at Buckingham Palace.

According to MailOnline, the Duke has put the cup on the mantelpiece in his medieval family home, Arundel Castle in West Sussex.

The Duke of Norfolk said: "After the Coronation, the King wrote a wonderful letter saying thank you, adding that a gift would be on its way,' the Duke, 67, revealed. 'I am absolutely delighted with the Coronation Cup."

This was one of several meetings that meant the King could not spend time with Harry, who now lives in America.

The King prioritised his work commitments over seeing his youngest son, who flew into London for an appearance at St Paul's Cathedral.

Harry's spokesman said: "In response to the many inquiries and continued speculation on whether or not the duke will meet with his father while in the UK this week, it, unfortunately, will not be possible due to His Majesty's full programme.

"The duke of course is understanding of his father's diary of commitments and various other priorities and hopes to see him soon."

However, The Times's royal correspondent, Roya Nikkah, claims that it was Harry who had rejected the King's invitation, rather than the King being too busy with other commitments.

On The Royals podcast, Ms Nikkah claimed: "He could have had two nights with Charles, and he declined.

"Last week we got that statement saying it won't be possible to see his father because he is too busy. That set the mood music for the whole week. Some people were saying 'We agree with the King, of course, he is too busy, he is recovering from cancer and getting on with the job!'

"Is that really a good look for the King to not make time for his son regardless of what has happened in the past? I just thought something didn't feel quite right about this and dug away. I found out that actually, Harry had asked if he could stay and Charles had said yes. That way it would have been much easier to see him.

"This narrative of Harry saying 'I wanted to see my father but he is too busy to see me'. Actually, the reality was Charles said 'Please come and stay in a royal gaff.'

Ms Nikkah added: "Neither side will cede an inch as to what happened... It is a bit sad isn't it."