PRINCE Harry’s reunion with King Charles showed “no doubt” of future reconciliation – but there’s ‘no chance’ of forgiveness from Prince William, claimed royal experts.
The duke’s transatlantic dash after receiving a call from the Monarch informing him of his cancer diagnosis sparked belief the pair could rebuild their taut relationship.
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A possible reconciliation between King Charles and Harry could be forged in the future, said a royal expert
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The duke arrived to see his father yesterday afternoon
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The Monarch was pictured smiling and waving with Camilla for the first time since the announcement
Buckingham Palace announced on Monday King Charles had been diagnosed after “separate issue of concern was noted” during his prostate treatment on January 26 at The London Clinic.
His Majesty, 75, has already begun treatment and is taking a step back from public appearances as Prince William and Queen Camilla ramp up their Royal duties.
Estranged son Harry, 39, arrived in the UK yesterday after a ten-and-a-half hour flight from his Montecito mansion in California to meet with his father in a 30 minute reunion.
Charles delayed a helicopter flight to Sandringham so they could hold their first meeting in 16 months.
Today the duke was snapped smiling at Heathrow airport as he headed back to LA today after spending just 25 hours in the UK.
Royal commentator Richard Fitwilliams told The Sun it could be a sign of possible reconciliation.
“Above everything the important thing is the King recuperates. It’s a grim time for the Royal Family,” he said.
“It’s essential, I don’t think it will be a problem, but the Sussexes stop all things against the Royal Family.
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Harry was seen arriving at Clarence House at 2.45pm
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Prince William continued with Royal duties at Windsor Castle today
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A Royal expert claimed William would not welcome his estranged brother Harry home
“The gesture of flying over was to show concern and express support, there’s no doubt in the weeks and months to come there may be a reconciliation.
“It was never practical on such short notice that he would see William, he has two engagements today and has Catherine to care for after her abdominal surgery.
Inside Prince Harry’s £1.6k an hour Heathrow Suite with Michelin Dining, Private Butlers and Chauffeur service as he joins King Charles
“What you have is the beginnings of something that will hopefully be built on.
“Harry made the gesture, it doesn’t matter where he was staying. He was sensible enough to come alone.
“I’m think Harry will be coming over a lot, his feelings for his father go back nearly 40 years, this is deep.
“The trust has to be built up before any real reconciliation, especially between him and William which will be very difficult.
“It is a time where feuds and disagreements are put aside for the wider goal of solidarity – that’s what needs to happen.”
‘Harry can’t be trusted’
Meanwhile, royal biographer Angela Levin was not so hopeful of a mended family bond between Prince William and his brother.
“Harry expects the king to drop everything and see him,” she said.
“Harry is so determined to do things his way and not compromise, he turns up when his father is traumatised by what’s happened, even though he said he’s feeling positive it must have affected him emotionally.
“The Queen would have been there too, Harry can’t be trusted, it would be quite a stress.”
The royal expert claimed Harry might have believed his “dramatic” visit would “help with another documentary”.
“William has said he’s got no time to see him, he’s working today and then he’s going to be with his family, he’s not going to drop that to see Harry, he’s furious with him – particularly over comments to do with Catherine,” Mrs Levin continued.
I think it will irritate Meghan because she needs to keep hold of him, she’s in control, she might feel very uncomfortable, I think Harry is up against a wall there”
Angela Levin
“He’s not going to welcome Harry.
“I don’t see any chance of a reconciliation happening in the future, it would take a very long time, and I don’t think William will ever forgive.”
However, there was hope for Charles and Harry to make amends, said the expert.
She explained: “Charles is different, it is very difficult – you can love the person but not like what they’ve done.
“The King did delay the helicopter for half an hour, he wasn’t rude but I think it was very important that he rested.
“I imagine the meeting must have been very awkward, Harry still wants an apology for the way they allegedly treated Meghan. It must have been quite tense. Charles has been deeply hurt.”
MEGHAN’S FRUSTRATION
Mrs Levin also branded Meghan Markle the “controller” of Harry’s visits.
“Harry may come over quite a lot, don’t forget Meghan is the controller of this, in her mind it might boost their popularity,” she continued.
“I think it will irritate Meghan because she needs to keep hold of him, she’s in control, she might feel very uncomfortable, I think Harry is up against a wall there.
“She is the one who turned his position with the royal family upside down and made it very nasty and he was very close to his father when he was younger.
“When I interviewed him for my book he was full of praise for his father.
Prince Harry’s tense visits to Britain since Megxit
Relations between Charles and Harry were previously feared by some to be fractured beyond repair amid the fallout over their royal row.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told The Sun in December: “Charles and Harry’s relationship was at an all-time low before but this may have fractured it beyond all repair.
“It could spell the end game for them.”
Hopes of a reconciliation had been raised after Harry called Charles to wish him a happy 75th birthday last month and sent a video of the King’s US-based grandkids Archie, now four, and Lilibet, two.
And now, Harry will jet to the UK to be with his dad following the King’s shock cancer diagnosis.
Here’s a look inside their fractured relationship since Megxit.
January 2020 – Harry and Meghan make their ‘Megxit’ flight, leaving for Canada, eventually setting up home in California, USA.
March 2021 – Harry and Meghan give their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey where Harry accused his dad of cutting him off financially.
July 2021 Harry jets back to UK to join William in unveiling a statue to their mother Princess Diana in the grounds of Kensington Palace.
But sources claimed William didn’t want to attend the memorial amid their ongoing rift.
Pals said at the time: “William was still furious. He had taken the view that he’d only give so much. He just didn’t want to go there [with Harry].”
September 2022 – Harry jets to the UK for Prince Philip’s funeral. Meghan Markle, who was heavily pregnant at the time, was unable to attend due to doctor’s orders not to fly.
A pal of Harry’s tells Omid Scobie Harry met the Queen privately ‘at least twice’ and spoke with Charles and William after the Westminster Abbey service.
Kate acts as a “peacemaker” between William and Harry as they share a private chat.
September 2022 – The duke claimed he found out Queen Elizabeth had died in an online news alert.
He jetted to Balmoral without Meghan, and claimed in Spare that she was told she should not attend by Charles.
Harry travelled on a separate flight to his brother William – who travelled with the rest of the family.
The duke wrote in his memoir: “When the plane started to descend I saw that my phone lit up. It was a message from Meg: ‘Call me when you get this.’ I looked at the BBC website. My grandmother had died. My father was King.”
Harry and Meghan were sat behind Charles at the funeral for Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey.
March 2023 – Harry is told King Charles is “too busy” to see him while he’s in the UK for a privacy hearing, according to reports.
The Duke had jetted to the UK to attend a four-day preliminary hearing at the High Court in London regarding his battle with publisher Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) over allegations of unlawful information gathering.
It was the first time the Prince was back on home soil since the Queen’s funeral.
Harry flew back to the US once the hearing was over.
April 2023 – Harry has a “heart-to-heart” talk with his dad before agreeing to come to the Coronation in London
The Duke travelled alone to attend the ceremony on May 6.
Harry headed straight back to the US following the coronation in Westminster Abbey.
He did not appear to speak to his brother William or sister-in-law Kate Middleton at the ceremony – taking a backseat and sitting in the third row at the ceremony.
September 2023 – Harry rejects an offer to spend the anniversary of the Queen’s death at Balmoral with his father.
Experts were stunned that he turned down the olive branch, seen as a sign that the King was ready to forgive his son’s repeated attacks on the Royal Family.
The Duke of Sussex, who was prepared to fly more than 5,000 miles from the US, snubbed the relatively short trip to Balmoral.
“I think she will let him come once or twice but then start getting angry if he comes too often. Unless it boosts their popularity – then she wouldn’t mind because they are in desperate need of it.”
The royal expert also claimed it would be a “risk” for members of the Royal Family to talk to Harry.
“There was a joke among senior royals that the only thing they felt comfortable talking about with Harry was the weather,” she added.
It comes as Prince William returned to Royal duties today for the first time since his father’s cancer diagnosis announcement.
He planned to take a step back for three-and-a-half weeks – but held an investiture at Windsor Castle this morning.
Snaps showed William smiling and joking as he handed out gongs at the ceremony.
Former England Lioness Ellen White was among those recognised, chatting with William as he awarded her an MBE.
Meanwhile, this evening William will attend the London Air Ambulance fundraising gala in London’s Raffles Hotel.
The Times reported that former air ambulance pilot William wants to “reassure the public” by stepping in.
Possible reconciliation
King Charles has had a strained relationship with his younger son in the wake of ‘Megxit’ but sources now say there is a “willingness and wanting to mend on both sides”
January 2020 – Harry and Meghan make their ‘Megxit’ flight, leaving for Canada, eventually setting up home in California, USA.
March 2021 – Harry and Meghan give their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey where Harry accused his dad of cutting him off financially.
April 2023 – Harry has a “heart-to-heart” talk with his dad before agreeing to come to the Coronation in London
May 2023 – The Duke travelled alone to attend the ceremony on May 6.
November 2023 – Hopes of a reconciliation raised after Harry called Charles to wish him a happy 75th birthday and sent a video of the King’s US-based grandkids.
February 2024 – Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams exclusively told The Sun: “The rift in the family is one thing, but there surely will be a good deal of solidarity among the royals because of what’s happened and this includes Harry.
“I’m sure Harry will put aside the past right now for this serious issue. The Royal family – including the Sussexes – it’s so important that everyone is pulling in the right direction.”
“For families everywhere cancer is so shocking and as much as humanly possible they need to pull together – and that includes Harry and Meghan despite everything that has happened.
“There will be concern from Prince Harry coming over, as he is his father, I sincerely hope it will be the moment that brings them together, families have known the struggle of cancer and this is clearly a circumstance no one foresaw.
“It is a deeply emotional time for the royal family and Harry is included in that, reconciliation could be hopeful with Sussexes but right now its about Charles and his treatment plan.”
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Prince William did not see Harry in his brief visit
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William has made it clear his first priority is wife Kate after her abdominal surgery
