King Charles met with David Beckham after snubbing Prince Harry on UK trip because he was ‘too busy’
THE King held a private meeting with ex-England star David Beckham yesterday – after snubbing wayward son Harry.
Becks, 49, bonded with Charles at his country home Highgrove, Glos., to learn more about his charity, the King’s Foundation, a source close to the King confirmed last night.
It comes after Charles, 75, had a packed diary and was too busy to meet Harry, 39, during his three days in London following his son’s years of public attacks on his family.
Harry has spent the past four years attacking the Royal Family including Charles, Camilla and William and Kate, firing pot shots in TV interviews, his six-part Netflix series and shock memoir Spare.
The Sun exclusively revealed last October that the footy ace had accepted an invite for talks with the King to explore ways they can work together for charity which provides skills training to youngsters.
Becks, known as Goldenballs, has distanced himself from Prince Harry following his public attacks on the Royal Family after previously being an ambassador for the Invictus Games.
It comes after Charles joked about being “let out of his cage” as William enjoyed a game of beach volleyball on his first public engagement since Harry returned to Britain.
Charles met military staff and their families today during a visit to the 3 Royal School of Military Engineering at Gibraltar Barracks in Minley, Hampshire.
The monarch apologised to the Army for making a last minute visit to the training base, in what was his first military engagement today since announcing a comeback to public duty.
But the King was all smiles and jokingly said that he had wanted to come as soon as he had been “allowed out of my cage”.
As he was led into the officers’ mess by Lieutenant Colonel Robert Grant, commanding officer of 3RSME, King Charles said to him today: “I do apologise for taking you by surprise, when this opportunity appeared and I had been allowed out of my cage, I wanted to come to have a look.”
Charles was met by the Lord Lieutenant Nigel Atkinson and Major General Eldon Millar before he received a salute from a Quarter Guard comprising officers from the school.
The King, 75, took on the role of Colonel-in-Chief in March last year which used to be held by Queen Elizabeth II.
Arriving at Gibraltar Barracks, in Minley, Wilts, he said: “Thank you so much, I do apologise by taking you by surprise, this opportunity appeared and allowed me out of my cage and wanted to come and have a look.”
Lt Col Robert Grant said afterwards: “We only had, if you take into account the Bank Holiday, only seven or eight days to pull it all together but when you get that call is it possible to put a visit for His Majesty there is only one answer.”
The King was spotting beaming as he chatted with trainees, trainers and their families on a patio at the Officer’s Mess.
Speaking to heavily-pregnant Sophie Mairs, 37, who is six weeks until het due date, the King joked: “Are you sure you should be here today?”
Sophie, whose husband WO2 Barry Mairs, 38, is in the engineers, said afterwards: “I said I couldn’t miss it.
“It’s not every day the King comes to where your husband works.”
Outside Louis Bacon, 6, handed the King a handmade drawing he had made.
Louis said: “I wanted to make something special.”
Six-year-old Lucas Stewart handed the King some honey made on the barracks,
The King said: “Oh, just what I need.”