The Royal Family Revealed Reasons why They Did Not Attend Prince Harry's Invictus Games Service in London

Prince Harry's service in London to mark the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games did not bring together members of the royal family... 

 As the Duke of Sussex, 39, attended a Service of Thanksgiving at St. Paul’s Cathedral on May 8, family members including King Charles, Prince William and Kate Middleton were not in attendance...

 Prince Harry traveled to the U.K. from his California home to mark the 10th anniversary of the international adaptive sports tournament for wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans, which he founded in 2014... 

 Earlier this week, it was disclosed that Harry wouldn't be able to meet with his father King Charles during his time in the U.K. due to the monarch's "full" schedule — which includes the palace garden party hosted by the King at the same time, just a few miles away at Buckingham Palace. Along with Charles and Queen Camilla, the garden party was also attended by royal family members Princess Anne, Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester... 

 "In response to the many inquiries and continued speculation on whether or not The Duke will meet with his father while in the U.K. this week, it unfortunately will not be possible due to His Majesty’s full program. The Duke of course is understanding of his father’s diary of commitments and various other priorities and hopes to see him soon," a spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex said on May 7...

 The Duke of Sussex also traveled to the U.K. in February to privately visit his father the King after Buckingham Palace announced the monarch's cancer diagnosis. King Charles postponed public-facing duties and continued to work behind the scenes after he started receiving treatment, which the palace said coincided with its Feb. 5 announcement about his health. King Charles resumed forward-facing duties on April 30, and Queen Camilla later said she thought her husband was "really thrilled to be out.".. Prince Harry’s February trip to the U.K. did not involve meeting with his brother, Prince William, or his sister-in-law, Princess Kate. A royal source said at the time there were "no plans" for the brothers to get together. In March, the Princess of Wales, 42, announced that she was undergoing treatment for cancer following abdominal surgery in January. 

PEOPLE understands that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle privately reached out to the Prince and Princess of Wales amid Kate's diagnosis. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex also shared their support by releasing a statement after Princess Kate announced the news about her health...

 "We wish health and healing for Kate and the family, and hope they are able to do so privately and in peace," the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said in a statement shared with PEOPLE on March 22, the day of Princess Kate’s announcement... Before the Princess of Wales announced that she had cancer, a family source told PEOPLE that Prince Harry and Meghan were in the dark about her abdominal surgery and recovery... 

 "They are aware of everything that goes on back in England, but are being left out of any details regarding Kate," the source told PEOPLE. "There is clearly no trust." The itinerary for Prince Harry’s Invictus-focused trip also included a panel discussion, and the Duke of Sussex delivered a reading at St. Paul’s Cathedral during the Service of Thanksgiving...

 Homeland actor Damian Lewis recited the poem "Invictus," which inspired the competition’s motto, and the ceremony was attended by representatives from across the participating nations of the Invictus Games, including members of the wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veteran community. 

Community members, supporters and beneficiaries also gave readings in the service led by The Very Reverend Andrew Tremlett, Dean of St. Paul’s. Prince Harry’s latest U.K. trip was announced on April 28, and he made the journey without his wife Meghan, 42, though they are soon due to reunite. PEOPLE confirmed that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will travel to Nigeria later this week upon the invitation on behalf of the Chief of Defense Staff, the country’s highest-ranking military official.