It was previously reported that Harry was keen for his father to attend this year’s countdown event alongside him. The Duke – who has been involved in a bitter feud with his family for some time – has spoken openly on numerous occasions about his wish to reconcile. Although it remains unclear if Harry has reached out to the King, or whether the monarch would accept a potential invitation, Mr Bowers said that he believes it would be something that Prince William would “forbid”.
Speaking on the latest edition of the Daily Expresso, Mr Bowers told host broadcaster and journalist JJ Anisiobi that he doesn’t believe the King would be in attendance.
Mr Anisiobi asked the author: “So you don’t think there’s a chance that King Charles will just pop in for five minutes, say hello, smile for the cameras, shake his son’s hand, and then jump back in the Rolls-Royce?”
Mr Bowers replied: “I don’t. Not even. Not least because of what we’ve discussed, but also because I think William will forbid it.”
He added: “I think William’s role in all this is pretty critical, and he wants to have a smooth transition. He wants to change the monarchy. Understandably. He wants to modernise it. He needs to appeal to young people and all the other things.
“He doesn’t want to be involved in more controversy, especially to benefit Harry and Meghan.”
The Duke of Sussex joined the HALO Trust and travelled near the town of Bucha for a demonstration of the latest digital de-mining technology on Friday.
The Duke of Sussex has said he will always be part of the royal family during his surprise visit, adding he is in the war-torn country “doing the very thing that I was born to do”.
Harry’s comments come after he delivered an impassioned speech at the Kyiv Security Forum on Thursday in which he appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin to “stop this war” and urged “American leadership” to honour its obligations in the Ukrainian conflict.