Why Prince William and Prince Charles have snubbed Donald Trump

Prince William left his grandmother to meet with Trump alone. Photo / Getty Images

Prince Charles and Prince William reportedly "snubbed" the US President during his visit to Britain - leaving the Queen to meet Donald Trump alone at Windsor Castle.

The royal father and son apparently shared their desire to not take part in the arrangements during informal discussions regarding the president's four-day tour.

Trump's trip was not a state visit and so only the Queen greeted the president and his wife Melania.

However even on working trips dignitaries expect to see more members of the royal family than only the Queen.

When deciding which royals to include in the meeting, senior courtiers shared concerns about Charles and William's reluctance to be involved, a source told the Times.

"This business of Prince Charles and Prince William not being there for the Trump visit was a snub," the source said, adding that they "simply refused" to attend.

"It's a very, very unusual thing for the Queen to be there on her own. Usually she is accompanied by somebody."

Prince Charles is seen more often with the Queen recently since Prince Philip, 97, has retired from royal duties.

Yet the source claims: "He goes to what he wants to go to, and if he had wanted to be there he could have been."

According to a source: "It's a very, very unusual thing for the Queen to be there on her own. Usually she is accompanied by somebody." Photo / Getty Images

The first two in line to the throne did, however, have other engagements during Trump's stay.

Prince Charles was attending a board meeting for his company AG Carrick at Highgrove as well as an event with Gloucestershire police.

The Duke of Cambridge took part in a charity polo match while the Duke of Sussex had private engagements.

A Whitehall official involved in making the arrangements for Trump's visit said the president's time with the Queen was "kept to the bare minimum".