Royals out in force at first Buckingham Palace garden party as Prince Harry visit ignored

The Royal Family were out in force at first Palace garden party as the Firm carried on with business as usual despite Prince Harry's UK trip.

Dressed in a top hat and tails, the monarch laughed and chatted with some of the 8,000 guests just 24 hours after it was confirmed that he would not meet his son despite the pair's close proximity.

He was joined in the spring sunshine by the Queen, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Anne and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, while Prince William hosted an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle.

The only senior royals missing were the Prince and Princess of Wales - William had conducted an investiture at Windsor Castle earlier in the day, while Kate is not undertaking public duties while she has chemotherapy.

It marked a clear show of solidarity for the 75-year-old King, who returned to public-facing duties last week for the first time since his cancer diagnosis.

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