Prince Harry made a quick visit to Clarence House in London, England, to see his father, King Charles III, on February 6, 2024, before returning to the U.S. just a day later.
The Duke of Sussex’s return to the U.K. to visit King Charles following the announcement of the monarch’s cancer diagnosis could have potentially stirred concern among the public.
According to a royal commentator, Prince Harry risked causing “worry” with his sudden visit.
Upon his arrival in England on February 6, Harry wasted no time after Buckingham Palace revealed King Charles’s medical condition on February 5, 2024.
Shortly after the palace’s announcement, he departed from Montecito, California, where he resides with Meghan Markle and their two children, Prince Archie, 4, and Princess Lilibet, 2, and flew to London, England.
Harry was reported to have landed in London on the afternoon of February 6, 2024, and immediately headed to Clarence House to meet with King Charles.
Cameras captured his arrival at the residence of the king and Queen Camilla around 3 p.m. local time.
After spending approximately 45 minutes with his father, Harry left about an hour later.
Following his brief visit, Harry reportedly stayed at a “luxury hotel” overnight as he no longer has a home in the U.K. Frogmore Cottage, their former residence, ceased to be theirs in the summer of 2023 after their belongings were relocated.
On February 7, 2024, Harry returned to Heathrow Airport, signifying that his stay in the U.K. lasted less than 24 hours before boarding a return flight.
Royal expert Pauline Maclaran noted that it was unlikely for Harry to extend his visit in the U.K. due to two reasons.
Firstly, he would want to reunite with his family in the U.S. Secondly, a prolonged stay may lead to heightened concerns regarding King Charles’s health status.
A longer visit by Harry could potentially create the impression of a more severe situation with the king’s illness, which the palace aims to avoid.
The palace had stated that despite the diagnosis, King Charles would carry on with his regular duties, focusing on government paperwork while reducing public appearances during treatment.
Prince Harry’s short stay in the U.K. to visit King Charles hints at an unsuccessful attempt to spend quality time with his father, especially amidst speculations of a potential reconciliation between them.
In addition, Harry has upcoming commitments, including the one-year countdown to the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025, where he and Meghan are anticipated to participate in various events in Canada from February 12 to 16, 2024.
