Prince Harry was noticeably absent from the State Banquet staged in honour of Donald Trump, in the wake of alleged comments made about his wife.
The Duke Of Sussex appeared less than keen to be pictured with the President – who reportedly branded Harry’s wife Meghan ‘nasty’ at the weekend after learning of comments she made about him while she was an actress.
Earlier in the day Harry had chaperoned Mr Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, into Buckingham Palace’s Picture Gallery for a display of US-themed artefacts.
But the Queen’s grandson quickly disappeared into the background and did not follow other members of the Royal Family as they walked round the exhibition with the American leader and his party.
Harry, 34, had been a last minute addition to the proceedings after aides initially suggested that neither he nor his wife would take part.
This was partly due to the recent birth of their son, Archie, and also the fact that they do not normally get involved in State visits due to their position in the royal pecking order.
Harry is now seventh in line to the throne and has only ever attended one State banquet previously.
Meghan is on maternity leave, having given birth to the couple’s first son just a month ago.
But her omission would no doubt have come as a relief, with her previously describing Mr Trump as a ‘misogynist’ and ‘divisive’ in a 2016 interview when working as an actress.
