Prince Harry’s recent trip to see King Charles III, following the announcement of his cancer diagnosis, sparked speculation of a potential family reconciliation. However, the longstanding issues within the royal family might need more time to be fully addressed.
Prince Harry has made a swift return to the UK to stand by King Charles III during a challenging time after the monarch’s unexpected cancer diagnosis was revealed. The Royal Family announced the King’s health issues on February 5, 2024.
The relationship between Harry and his father has always been complex and some of the rift has unfolded in public. In his memoir, “Spare,” the Duke of Sussex recounts a comment his father allegedly made after his birth: “Wonderful! Now you’ve given me an heir and a spare—my work is done,” he said to Diana.
From a young age, Harry felt that his father, being an older man, contributed to their strained relationship. He was more connected to his playful mother but never had the same interaction with King Charles III.
However, in an effort to mend the relationship, the King wanted to show his love and appreciation for his son and decided to help him with choosing an orchestra for his wedding in 2018. But the father-son relationship experienced more strain after Harry and Markle announced that they would step down from the senior royal duties in 2020, and seek to build a more independent life.
Harry embarked on an 11-hour journey from California, where he resides with his wife, Meghan Markle, and their children, Archie and Lilibet, and arrived at Clarence House in central London to be with his father.
Harry was spotted in the back of a Range Rover, part of a large convoy, as he made his way through the gates of Clarence House. King Charles III, 75, is currently recuperating from treatment for an unspecified type of cancer.
This unexpected visit by Prince Harry is being seen by many as a hopeful sign of reconciliation within the royal family, especially following King Charles’ shocking cancer diagnosis. However, the duration of Prince Harry’s stay in the UK remained uncertain, with speculations about whether he would be in central London or opt to stay at Windsor, at Frogmore Cottage, where he and Meghan used to live.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams emphasized the importance of unity during such times. Fitzwilliams is confident Harry will be ready to set aside past differences for the sake of the family’s solidarity. “It’s so important that everyone is pulling in the right direction,” Fitzwilliams remarked.
Echoing this sentiment, Kristina Kyriacou, the King’s former press secretary, reflected on the deep bond between King Charles III and Harry. She pointed out that the King adored his son and never wanted the distance between them to get this far.
But Kyriacou is optimistic that this unfortunate circumstance will result in a heartwarming reunion, not just between father and son, but among the wider royal family. “If out of bad news, some good news comes and Harry and the King and the Queen and his brother are reunited – how wonderful,” she reiterated.
According to reports, Harry’s interaction with King Charles and Camilla was brief, lasting only about 45 minutes. During this time, he did not have the opportunity to meet with his brother William or his sister-in-law Kate, who is reportedly also recovering from abdominal surgery.
Furthermore, it was disclosed by a source that Harry had specifically requested for Camilla to not be in the room during his discussion with his father regarding the King’s cancer diagnosis. This request was seen as a missed opportunity to extend an olive branch.
Judging by the brief time he spent with his father and stepmother, without even seeing his brother, royal experts believe there is still a long way to go before his relationship with the Royal Family can be mended. Harry was only in England for 24 hours before taking the next flight back to California.
In his tell-all memoir, Harry opened up about his rocky relationship with Camilla. He said meeting Camilla was like an injection, “Close your eyes, over before you know it.” he wrote. Even though the memory was fuzzy, he was sure neither cared about the other’s opinion of them.“She wasn’t my mother and I wasn’t her biggest hurdle,” added Harry.
The Duke of Sussex admitted that he and William never wanted their father to marry the Queen Consort. Harry explained that taking the next step seemed unnecessary since they were already together.
William and Harry emphasized how much they would support Camilla. “We support you, we said. We endorse Camilla. Just please don’t marry her. Just be with her, Pa,” Harry recalled. But the King wanted her to become an official part of the Royal Family.
When Camilla joined the royal family, it caused some trouble, mainly because of her past. She had the pressure to rehabilitate her reputation because she was the “other woman.” “She was the villain. She was the third person in the marriage,” said the Duke of Sussex. Therefore, Harry saw her actions to fit in and aim for the crown as risky.
Harry remarked that the effort to fix her reputation in the royal family made Camilla “dangerous” because she was close to the media, which could lead to private family matters being exposed and potentially taint their image in the Royal Family.
Therefore, Harry believed that he was among the family members who faced potential jeopardy. In his memoir, he detailed instances where his stepmother, allegedly shared information from their confidential meetings.
Additionally, he disclosed that Camilla and King Charles III had reservations about the widespread attention William and Kate received, feeling it overshadowed their own collaborative projects. Further complicating the dynamics of their relationship, it was revealed that Camilla had converted Harry’s previous bedroom into her dressing room.
Following, Harry’s memoir and interviews where he opened up about his relationship, with Camilla, sources close to her, indicated that she was “hurt” by how she was portrayed in Harry’s book. However, she learning to find her voice and get comfortable in her new role as the Queen Consort.
As the world watched the rift in the Royal Family unfold, Prince Harry’s visit to King Charles III raised hopes that reconciliation may be underway, but it might take much longer than many had expected.
