Prince Harry did not meet King Charles when came back to the UK to attend his appeal over his security because he is "not a priority" for the monarch, a royal author has claimed. The Duke of Sussex returned to his home country once again this week to attend a two-day hearing regarding his appeal over a High Court decision regarding his security while he was in the UK.

Harry is challenging the dismissal of his High Court claim against the Home Office over the decision of the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec) that he should receive a different degree of taxpayer-funded protection when in the country.

Last year, High Court judge Sir Peter Lane ruled that Ravec's decision, taken in early 2020 after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex quit as senior working royals, was not irrational or procedurally unfair but Harry appealed.

The Duke arrived in Britain on Sunday, and despite him and King Charles being in the same country until Monday, when the monarch travelled to Italy for his tour, the pair did not meet.

Their last meeting took place last February when the duke rushed back home following the announcement of Charles's cancer diagnosis.

Now a royal author said he is adamant that meeting the duke is not a "priority" for the monarch. Robert Jobson told Newsweek: "I honestly don't think it's a priority for the King.

"I think it's sad, but given what's going on, he's undergoing his chemotherapy, he's very busy, and Harry hasn't exactly enamoured himself with the Queen or his brother. Given what's gone on, what does he expect?"

He added that their conflicting schedule could be to blame, as he added: "The King is very busy. Harry arrived on the eve of Meghan's podcast; the court case was scheduled by the courts, and the timing has nothing to do with Harry."

He continued: "And the King was about to leave to go on a state visit. He's not going to make a massive change to his plans just because his son's flying in.

"I know a lot of people think that's strange but he doesn't operate like that. I don't think it's a new phase of hostility; he's just focusing on what he's doing. The circumstances mean he can't.

"I think everyone is fairly resigned to that and it is what it is."