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Prince Harry appeared ‘downcast and upset’ upon return to the US after Nigeria tour and quick UK visit, says royal expert
Prince Harry appeared “downcast and upset” as he stepped off a plane in Los Angeles after his Nigeria trip and missing out on a reunion with his father in the UK, a royal expert has claimed.
A royal expert has claimed Prince Harry’s “real feelings were apparent” when he arrived home in Los Angeles after being snubbed by his father during his brief trip to the United Kingdom.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle returned home to California on Monday, local time, following their three-day visit to Nigeria.
Photos taken of the couple at LA International Airport, published by the Daily Mail, showed the pair walking across the tarmac and into a car to take them to the terminal.
The images appeared to snap Prince Harry looking rather sombre in a dark-coloured jacket and trousers as he walked behind his wife, who sported white pants and a short brown coat.
Royal author Tom Quinn has weighed into the moment, suggesting Harry’s “downcast” expression could come down to him not seeing his father King Charles while in the UK.
“Harry tried desperately to put a brave face on it during his recent visit to the UK, but his real feelings were apparent when he landed back in Los Angeles,” Mr Quinn told The Mirror.
“It was impossible not to see how downcast and upset he looked.
“It’s no surprise because he had hoped to see his father, and for a good deal longer than their 30-minute meeting last time he was in the UK.”
Days before embarking on his Nigeria tour, Harry made a pit-stop to London and attended a church service at St Paul’s Cathedral in honour of the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games.
Despite his father only being some five kilometres away at a Buckingham Palace garden party, the monarch reportedly had no free time to see his son due to a packed schedule.
Prince Harry was last in the UK in February when he visited his 75-year-old father in the wake of his cancer diagnosis.
The pair reportedly only met up for about 30 minutes before The Duke of Sussex returned home to Meghan and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet in Montecito.
King Charles’ move to skip a reunion with his son this time around has the raised eyebrows of commentators, some speculating the snub “speaks volumes”.
However, further reports have since emerged suggesting the monarch did in fact extend an olive branch to Harry, offering for him to stay at one of the royal residences while in the UK.
The Duke reportedly turned down the offer and opted to stay in a hotel instead, according to The Sunday Times.