King Charles' cancer diagnosis could lead to Harry and William reconciling
On February 6, a day after Buckingham Palace announced this King Charles III was diagnosed with cancer, Prince Harry traveled to Britain for a short 24 hour trip to see his ailing father.
“Harry was focused on catching up and spending quality time together,” says a source, noting that the meeting – which took place at Clarence House, Charles and Queen Camille's house in London – was “amicable and warm.” Adds a second source: “Charles was extremely touched by Harry's gesture.”
Members of the royal circle are hopeful. The meeting between Harry and Charles marks a first step towards a reconciliation between father and son and the family as a whole. Harry, 39, and wife Meghan Markle42, has been out with his 75-year-old father and his brother, Prince William41, and Kate Middleton42, since leaving Britain in early 2020.
The first source says recent royal health issues – Kate, who shares Prince George10, Princess Charlotte8, and Prince Louis5-year-old William is still recovering from a planned abdominal surgery on January 17 – which could be the catalyst for a ceasefire. “They can use this as a starting point,” the source said. “The consensus is that life is too short, and there is hope that this will lead to mending the divide.”
The distance between Harry and his relatives has widened considerably since he and Meghan made their dramatic move to America, branded in the press as 'Megxit'. In 2021, the couple sat down for a jaw-dropping TV interview in which they accused a member of the royal family of racism and openly discussed Meghan and Kate's infamous row over Charlotte's flower girl dress in the lead-up to their 2018 wedding.
When Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle stepped down from their positions as senior working royals, the duke's relationship with father King Charles III disappeared. “My family literally cut me off financially, and me [needed to be able to] provide us with security,” the Duke of Sussex claimed in his impressive CBS interview in March […]
In their Netflix docuseries, Harry & Meghanthe duo claimed that 'the institution' had fueled negative stories in the British press, and in Harry's 2023 memoir, Reservehe accused his brother of physically assaulting him during an argument over Meghan in 2019.
Charles and Camilla showed up at Sandringham Estate on February 11 in good spirits.
Karwai Tang/WireImageDespite the depth of the rift, Harry and Charles have slowly but surely reconnected in recent months. A third source says Us Charles has been eager to make things right with Harry for some time now.
Ready to work things out? Prince Harry has spoken out about a possible reconciliation with his family after stepping back from his royal duties in 2020. The Invictus Games founder seemingly sparked a family feud when he and his wife Meghan Markle left England and moved to the United States. The move came shortly after […]
The second source says their recent reunion was emotional. “Harry jumped on the first possible plane,” says the source. “Meghan completely agreed that Harry should be there. He needs to tell his dad how much he loves him and get a better sense of what Charles is dealing with.”
William tried to give his brother a helping hand when he took his first steps in 1985.
Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty ImagesAmid rumors that Harry's short trip was a PR move, the first source says the brevity was “mainly due to the discomfort Harry feels in that environment.” According to the second source, it is also “hard” for Harry to be away from Meghan and their two children. Archie4, and Lilibet2, for a long time.
Sources say Meghan is all for mending fences. “Meghan has reached out to Kate and Charles,” the first source revealed. “So steps are being taken to achieve reconciliation.” Adds the second source: “Meghan supports Harry through all of this, and she wishes the royals – including Kate – all the best.”
William, Kate and Harry came together to lead a mental health campaign in 2016.
Nicky J Sims/Getty Images for Royal FoundationKate is also on board… to an extent. “Kate is open to reconciliation, but more with Harry than with Meghan,” the third source said. “She still has hurt feelings about what Meghan did to her and Charlotte. There is work to be done, but she is willing to move on.”
Prince William and Prince Harry may be of royal descent, but their sibling bond is on par with any brothers. “Their relationship is incredibly intimate,” Princess Diana's biographer Andrew Morton revealed in the November 2019 issue of Royals Monthly. “Nobody but each other knows exactly – not even their father – what's going on […]
The second source says that Kate will eventually follow her husband's example. “Kate would be open to kindness if William wanted to, but she won't interfere. She is confident that the situation will resolve itself in time.” The source adds that the mother of three “really misses Harry. She always saw him as a brother figure.”
The brothers shook hands after competing against each other in a polo match in 2011.
Indigo/Getty ImagesHarry's bond with his older brother remains strained. “William loves Harry but the last few years have been very difficult for him,” the second source said. “The sad reality is that it is impossible for him to simply forget all the hateful and vindictive attacks Harry has made against him and the monarchy.”
The first source says that Harry does not push: “He does not give up, but the ball is in William's court.”
The teenage princes posed for a photo with their father during a ski trip to Klosters, Switzerland, in 2000.
Ken Goff/Getty ImagesCharles is most invested in ending the family feud. While the first source says doctors “detected the cancer early,” fears for his health have prompted him to take stock of how much time he has left and what is most important in life. “It is Charles' greatest wish that the family is on good terms again,” the second source added. “Health and peace are his top priorities.”