King Charles III laughed off an awkward request to "bring back" his son Prince Harry to the UK during an engagement today (Wednesday 8 February).
The monarch was visiting the University of East London's campus in Stratford in a celebration of the education facility's 125th anniversary.
The King opened the brand new hospital and primary care training hub, and also unveiled a plaque during his visit – which came simultaneously with Kate Middleton's visit to a school in Derby in which she showed her strength by pulling tyres.
But as he greeted a throng of excited students waiting eagerly, the monarch was faced with a potentially difficult question.
Charles shook the hands of some of the students, some of whom had been waiting hours to see him, as one reportedly asked: "Can you bring back Harry?"
At first the King misheard the onlooker, and The Mirror reports that he replied "Who?" in confusion.
As the realisation dawned, Charles then erupted into laughter, and expertly moved the conversation on with the Royals' skilled brush-off.
The monarch was accompanied by Professor Amanda Broderick, UEL’s vice-chancellor and president for the visit, where he arrived shortly after midday.
He was also greeted by several dignitaries during the university's landmark moment.
Dad-of-two Charles refused to answer any questions about his youngest son, whom he has had a strained relationship with since Harry and his wife Meghan Markle stepped down from their senior roles in the Royal Family in 2020.
Yet whether or not the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be invited to the King's coronation on May 6 remains the question on most Royal-watchers' lips.
It comes following the announcement that Charles will officially become King on the same day as Harry's son Archie's fourth birthday.
It's unclear whose decision the coronation date was, but many believe the chances of Harry, 38, or Meghan, 40, appearing at a public engagement on their eldest child's birthday are now even slimmer.
It also comes as relations between the Royals continue to become even more fraught after the release of Harry's explosive and revealing autobiography Spare.
The Duke shared a number of personal memories and sensitive opinions about his father and brother Prince William in the book, and went even further to explain various details about their ongoing feud in highly-publicised interviews on UK and American TV.
But despite his shocking actions, Harry insisted he still wants to have a relationship with his family, and is keen to meet with both Charles and William to try and sort out their various issues.
The last time Harry and Meghan appeared at an official Royal engagement was for the Queen's funeral in September, which also saw the couple attend a series of events for the longest-reigning monarch's official week of mourning at the request of Charles.
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