Now I can reveal that one of the items of business which kept the monarch from seeing his son was rewarding the senior peer who masterminded both his Coronation and his mother’s funeral.

It was a packed day of royal engagements that prevented the King from meeting Prince Harry during his brief visit to the UK.

One of the commitments that kept the monarch from seeing his son was honoring the senior peer who orchestrated both his Coronation and his mother’s funeral.

Eyebrows had been raised when the Duke of Norfolk was seemingly overlooked in the New Year Honours, given his crucial role in the success of both events.

However, on May 7, during a private meeting at Buckingham Palace, the King presented the Duke with a silver gilt Coronation Cup, maintaining a 300-year tradition.

The 18th Duke shared that the gift now has a prominent place on the mantelpiece in his medieval family home, Arundel Castle in West Sussex. “After the Coronation, the King wrote a wonderful letter thanking me and mentioned that a gift would be on its way,” revealed the 67-year-old Duke. “I am absolutely delighted with the Coronation Cup.”

Monarchs have been gifting gilded cups to their Earls Marshal, who hold the hereditary office responsible for major ceremonial state occasions, since the Coronation of George II in 1727, overseen by the 8th Duke of Norfolk.

This tradition was upheld by George III, George IV, William IV, George V, George VI, and Elizabeth II.

Unfortunately, all seven cups were stolen in 2021 when a burglar broke into Arundel Castle, taking £1 million worth of antiques. No one has been convicted, and the police believe it is unlikely the items will be recovered.

The presentation was just one of several meetings Charles attended on the day Harry arrived in London.

The following day, while his son was at St. Paul’s Cathedral, the King hosted a garden party and held several meetings, including with the Prime Minister and reportedly David Beckham.