Following King Charles III’s cancer diagnosis, Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, addressed the possibility of a family reunion in an interview on “Good Morning America” Friday. Speaking with ABC News’ Will Reeve in Whistler, British Columbia, the location of the 2025 Invictus Games, Harry shared insights just one week after traveling from California to London to be with his father.
“I immediately boarded a plane to see him as soon as I could,” Harry disclosed. “My family means the world to me. Having the chance to fly over and spend time with him, I’m truly thankful for that opportunity.”
The announcement of King Charles’ cancer diagnosis came on Feb. 5 via a statement released by Buckingham Palace. This news followed his recent discharge from a private London clinic after undergoing “a corrective procedure” for an enlarged prostate. It’s been indicated that the king’s intention in sharing his diagnosis was to encourage men experiencing similar symptoms to seek medical advice, as reported by The Independent.
Implications of King Charles’ Cancer Diagnosis on Prince Harry and Prince William (Credits: PEOPLE)
Buckingham Palace has yet to disclose the specific type or stage of cancer diagnosed in the 75-year-old king. During his interview, Harry chose not to delve deeper into his father’s health status but expressed his desire to reunite with him soon, stating, “I have upcoming trips that will bring me to the U.K., and I’ll make sure to visit my family as often as possible.”
Harry met with Charles for less than an hour on Feb. 6, spending the night in a hotel before departing from London’s Heathrow Airport the following day. Prior to this visit, the duke was last seen with his father in May during Charles’ coronation at Westminster Abbey.
Regarding his father’s condition potentially uniting the family, Harry reflected on the strength of familial bonds, drawing parallels from his experiences with Invictus athletes’ families:
“Witnessing families come together through challenging times is something I see daily. The unity within the family is evident,” Harry remarked. “So, indeed, any illness or adversity tends to draw families closer. I’ve witnessed this countless times, and it brings me joy.”
Despite being in London, Harry did not meet with his older brother, Prince William, with whom he reportedly has a strained relationship.
According to an insider source speaking exclusively to In Touch, Prince Charles was not eager to meet his brother: “William isn’t in a hurry to spend time with Harry,” the source disclosed. “The stark reality is that he could have easily met him but chose not to, feeling it’s too little, too late.”
In recent weeks, William has taken on a prominent role within the monarchy, balancing his father’s illness and his wife Kate Middleton’s recovery from surgery. Just two days after Charles commenced regular cancer treatments, William made his first public appearance at the London Air Ambulance Charity Gala Dinner after a hiatus to care for his wife.
“On behalf of Catherine and my father, I want to express my gratitude for the kind messages of support, particularly in these recent days,” William conveyed to well-wishers. “It means a great deal to us all.”
William is scheduled to attend the BAFTA Awards solo on Sunday, Feb. 18. Serving as president of BAFTA since 2010, this event marks another engagement for him.
In the event of Charles’ passing, William will ascend to the throne, followed by his three children: Prince Louis of Wales, Princess Charlotte of Wales, and Prince Louis of Wales. Prince Harry is fifth in line, followed by his children, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor and Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, in sixth and seventh place, respectively.
