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ROBERT JOBSON
Maybe cancer has finally made Prince Harry realise that his father is not indestructible
As William grapples with the implications of the King’s condition, he, too, could have done with Harry’s support
THEY used to be so close. Closer even, perhaps, than the King and William.
And when Charles personally told youngest son Harry of his cancer diagnosis, he immediately said he was getting the next plane to see his dad.
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Nobody blames him for that. But the King and his circle knew Harry rolling into town like a circus, with all its bells and whistles, was an unwanted distraction.
After all, at this tumultuous time, the last thing the King needs is drama.
He simply wants to get on with his treatment, rest up at Sandringham away from prying eyes and recuperate, while quietly completing the paperwork needed to keep the affairs of state rolling.
The very fact Harry announced he was jetting to be his dad’s side was seen as “significant”, highlighting the seriousness of the King’s condition when the Palace is trying to play it cool.
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And it threw up a raft of questions which served as a stark reminder of the family’s fractures, which have deepened since Queen Elizabeth’s passing.
Where would Harry stay? Would he reconcile with William? Would he get to build bridges with Queen Camilla?
In the end, Harry and Charles spent 30 minutes together at Clarence House, delaying his father’s departure to Sandringham.
Whether any further meetings will take place before Harry heads back to Montecito is unknown.
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Certainly, William — busy with his young family, as wife Kate recovers from abdominal surgery — will not be seeing his estranged brother.
But, for Charles, yesterday’s reunion was an act of goodwill.
60 Second Briefing Charles and Harry reunite after cancer diagnosis
As one former household source said: “The last thing His Majesty needs now is drama, or scenes. He just needs peace and quiet.
“I am sure it is the Duke’s decision to come.
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‘The last thing His Majesty needs is drama, or scenes’
“His Majesty has had a lot to contend with: the loss of his parents, becoming King, coping with the transition, and steadying the ship. Add to that all the sniping by the Sussexes.
“Perhaps, the Duke of Sussex has finally realised his father is not indestructible.”
William, 41, will step up as heir to fulfil the face-to-face duties his father would have done.
All he wants is for the King to focus on getting well. They are in regular contact and Charles knows he can rely on his heir.
Queen Camilla, 76, along with the Princess Royal, 73, will form the monarch’s praetorian guard.
Together — along with William — they will block unwarranted interruptions so he gets his work/life balance right during his treatment and recovery.
They all simply want the King to rest, get well and listen to his body.
When he does return to full fitness, they want him to pace himself better, too.
Many family members feel the King has perhaps overindulged his youngest son for many years.
He has handed him millions but now all the talk among senior staff on palace corridors is of a genuine concern about what happens if his money runs out.
There understandably remains a distinct lack of trust where Harry is concerned.
He, after all, has always had his own agenda.
For William, the trust is already shattered. The same goes for Harry and Queen Camilla’s broken relationship.
Prince Harry’s return underscores the gravity of King Charles’s condition
Of course, Harry did attend his father’s coronation last May but even then left London ajust hours after the ceremony with his tail between his legs to return to California — not happy with the bit-part he played.
When he sloped off, the wounds he caused in the family certainly had not healed.
Now, amid all these tumultuous developments, some would have preferred it if he had stayed away.
The late Queen Elizabeth found Harry’s calls wearisome and tried to encourage him to communicate directly with his father.
It is something the King has experienced, too.
Charles even eventually stopped taking Harry’s calls, according to Harry.
Apparently, after heated exchanges and being subjected to repeated requests for financial support, which he deemed inappropriate, he felt enough was enough.
Charles even told the late Queen Elizabeth when she asked why he had ceased communications: “I’m not a bank.”
Face-to-face meetings that have followed between Charles and Harry have been fraught.
In April 2022, then-Prince Charles and Camilla were present at Windsor Castle, with Charles standing in for his mother at the annual Maundy Thursday service.
It did not help when Harry turned up late.
Possible reconciliation
Since then, the King hasn’t really wanted to engage — until he felt he had to when he was given the diagnosis.
As William grapples with the implications of his father’s condition, he, too, could have done with his brother’s support.
Now, in truth, he doesn’t want it.
But the pressure on him is immense as he must now bear additional responsibilities.
The uncertainty of the King’s condition also only adds to the challenges facing The Firm.
While William takes on more royal duties, he must be pondering how his grandmother managed such an intrusion into her life at such a young age of 25.
Unlike her, he faces a challenging time for the monarchy, an institution in transition.
William’s charisma and charm, inherited from Princess Diana, endear him to the public.
Let’s hope the King and Harry can find some common ground on which to start rebuilding their once loving bond
They will serve him well as he steps into his new-found role.
Despite the vast differences between father and son, as Prince of Wales, William must now cover more ground than he’s accustomed to. He will likely assume some of his father’s diplomatic duties.
The Duke of Sussex travelled to the UK alone, leaving Meghan and their children behind.
His last visit saw him staying in a hotel, as Windsor Castle was not an option.
He travels with his private security, having lost police protection upon leaving the Royal family.
Prince Harry’s return underscores the gravity of King Charles’s condition.
A possible reconciliation between the estranged brothers continues to be discussed by royal pundits.
William, while close to his father, has yet to make a public statement as he resumes his royal duties.
As King Charles undergoes regular treatment, William may take on additional responsibilities, further shaping his future role.
Let’s hope the King and Harry can find some common ground on which to start rebuilding their once loving bond.
And what next for the so-called battle of the brothers — William and Harry’s feud?
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There may be a ceasefire while Harry is here — but I doubt very much there will be any peace treaty signings.
- ROBERT Jobson is the author of Our King: Charles III – The Man and the Monarch Revealed.
How Charles bravely revealed diagnosis to help others
KING Charles has bravely broken with royal protocol by sharing his cancer diagnosis.
Senior royals have in past been tight-lipped about their health battles.
The last top royal diagnosed with cancer was Charles's grandfather George VI.
Heavy smoker George had his left lung removed for "structural abnormalities" in September 1951, months before he died.
The "abnormalities" were actually a life-threatening carcinoma, but the public never learned about George's cancer ordeal.
Buckingham Palace said Charles wanted to share his cancer diagnosis to boost "public understanding" for cancer patients worldwide.
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