Harry attends St Paul’s with Diana’s relatives as King Charles snubs event for garden party – live updates

King Charles III’s decision to be open about his cancer diagnosis has helped the new monarch connect with the people of Britain and strengthened the monarchy in the year since his dazzling coronation at Westminster Abbey.

Charles has used his illness to highlight the need for early diagnosis and treatment, showing leadership at a time of personal hardship. And in the process, people have begun to see him as a more flesh-and-blood character who faces the same challenges as them, not just an archetype of wealth and privilege.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla were joined by the Princess Royal, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester at a garden party at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday, 8 May, as the Duke of Sussex celebrated the 10th anniversary of his Invictus Games at a St Paul’s Cathedral service.

His Majesty and his son have not reunited during Prince Harry’s brief UK visit due to the King’s “full programme”, Harry’s spokesperson said.

Harry was joined at the service of thanksgiving by close relatives of his mother Diana, Princess of Wales, and a mentor who supported him after her death, along with hundreds from the “Invictus family”.

The Princess, 35, gave the first update on her mother since January when it was announced that the Duchess of York, 64, had skin cancer following the removal of several moles.

At the time, the Duchess was said to be “undergoing further investigations to ensure that it has been caught in the early stages.”

The Queen opened a new school library as she told excited pupils reading will open doors and make a “huge difference” for them in life.

Camilla told children at Moreland Primary School in Islington, London, “the more books you read, the more you’re going to learn”.

The royal’s proud history of contributions to literacy initiatives was honoured through the opening of the library and part of the Coronation Libraries Project.

At the time, the couple promised to still “regularly” visit the UK, but after leaving almost four years ago, they have only returned from their new home in California a handful of times.

Meghan has not been in the country since the Queen’s funeral in September 2020 and she chose to skip King Charles’s coronation in May of last year.

Prince William will be made colonel-in-chief of the Army Air Corps – despite Prince Harry having served with the unit in Afghanistan.

Buckingham Palace announced that the Prince of Wales would succeed King Charles as head of the regiment on Tuesday in what represents a second blow for Harry on his brief return to the UK.

According to reports, the honour would have likely been given to Harry had he not chosen to step down as a working member of the royal family in 2020.