Royals out in force at first Buckingham Palace garden party as Prince Harry visit ignored

While he continues to undergo treatment, each engagement is carefully calibrated to balance his desire to meet as many members of the public as possible with his health. He appeared in his element as he spent time chatting with the guests and was pictured removing his top hat and waving it in the air as a crowd greeted him by singing the national anthem. Charles then greeted well-wishers, shaking hands and grinning from ear to ear. “God bless you,” said one man, clasping his hands.  “I’ve dreamt of this all my life.” Another added: “So glad you are looking so much better.” “I’m not doing badly,” Charles smiled, clearly touched. 

Dozens of people asked after his health and told him how good it was to see him back in public again. “How are you feeling, Sir?” one man asked him. “Not too bad,” he replied. Although there had been expectations that the King might cut his visit short slightly, he left not long after 5pm as he normally does. He headed back inside to hold his weekly audience with the Prime Minister before joining a Privy Council meeting. Two miles away, Prince Harry was met with loud cheers as he arrived at St Paul’s Cathedral to celebrate the 10th anniversary of his Invictus Games, the sporting competition for injured service men and women he helped found.

Wearing his military medals and a star around his neck, which indicates that he is the Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, Harry waved to the crowds before greeting the Dean of St Paul's, the Very Reverend Andrew Tremlett, at the top of the steps. Among the 1,000 strong congregation were Princess Diana’s siblings Lady Jane Fellowes and Earl Spencer, and former Army officer Mark Dyer, who acted as the duke's mentor, playing the role of a supportive big brother figure for Harry after Diana's death. His lawyer David Sherborne, who has represented Harry in a number of media lawsuits, also attended.

Harry sat next to his mentor and exchanged a few words with his uncle before the service began with the hymn Praise My Soul The King Of Heaven. He later gave a bible reading and actor Damian Lewis, 53, recited the Invictus poem by William Ernest Henley, whose bust resides in the St Paul’s Crypt. The reading was followed by an emotional testimony provided by former Invictus Games Team UK vice-Captain Michelle Turner. She read a poem outlining the impact of the Invictus Games on her recovery and on the lives of her family alongside John and Maya Turner. She said: "The power of sport has forever united us all. “Thank you Invictus for giving me my life back." The congregation responded with a standing ovation.

The theme of the event and the 10-year anniversary is marking lives changed and lives saved through sport. The Dean of St Paul's remembered those who had lost their lives in conflict and a piper played Flowers of the Forest. Harry arrived in the UK on Tuesday morning to commemorate the milestone with members of the Invictus Games family and mark the decade-long support competitors in the paralympic-style tournament have received. Shortly after arriving he attended a summit at the Honourable Artillery Company’s headquarters where he told delegates: "Sometimes you... look back and go 'Look at what we've done'.