Prince Williams met the presidents of Rwanda and Ghana alone today in his first solo reception at Buckingham Palace since his brother Harry stepped down as a senior royal. 

The Duke of Cambridge was pictured beaming as he shook hands with President Paul Kagame of Rwanda and President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana.

But his brother was notably absent from the Palace meeting, despite having met other African leaders at the UK-Africa summit in Greenwich, south east London, earlier today. 

Harry, who is soon jetting off to Canada to join wife Meghan for the foreseeable future, posed with Prime Minister Boris Johnson but decided to dodge the audience with his brother. 

In happier times Harry would almost certainly have been there to support his older sibling, who for the first time was asked by the Queen to host a major state occasion, but Harry's presence would have overshadowed William's big night, royal sources say. 

Today it was claimed the Queen and Prince Charles decided not to strip Prince Harry of their HRH titles and Duke and Duchess of Sussex rank to avoid looking 'petty'. 

It comes as Harry met Boris Johnson for 20 minutes of one-on-one talks today - but will dodge his brother William 's first solo Buckingham Palace reception tonight as he prepares to jet to Canada for the foreseeable future.

Last night Harry told an event for his HIV prevention charity Sentebale he had 'no other option' but to quit his role.

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Her Majesty is said to have considered stripping the couple of their most prized titles and instead referring to them as the Earl and Countess of Dumbarton – putting them at the same level as Edward and Sophie, Earl and Countess of Wessex.

However, the Queen and Prince Charles are believed to have felt preventing the couple from using 'HRH' in public and for commercial use - while still officially retaining the title - was a sufficient enough change.

A source told the Evening Stndard: 'The Sussex title is one of the ancient royal dukedoms given to him ahead of his wedding to Meghan, along with other titles. Removing it was seriously considered and discussed at the highest level.' 

Harry was at the UK-Africa Investment Summit in Greenwich for a number of private meetings with heads of state in one of his final events as a senior royal this morning – after claiminglast night he and Meghan had 'no other option' but to quit. 

After the prince hosted meetings with the presidents of Malawi and Mozambique and the prime minister of Morocco he posed with Mr Johnson. 

The VIPs then rushed to a private room at the Intercontinental Hotel for an informal 'catch-up' chat - but unusually they insisted no No 10 or Palace aides were present to ensure the talks were kept private.  

Harry has defiantly backed an Army charity close to his heart using his official instagram account today.   

It is another stepping stone for William in the long preparation for him becoming king and will showcase the royal family's new order post-Harry, with the Duke of Cambridge supported by his wife Kate, Prince Edward, his wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex, and Princess Anne welcoming 21 African delegations to the Queen's London home. 

MailOnline understands Harry has no more official engagements in his diary after today and is expected to fly to Vancouver imminently to be reunited with Archie and Meghan, who he has not seen for almost a fortnight.  It is not known when he will return but a Sussex source told MailOnline there is 'more to come' in Britain for the prince before the spring.