King Charles has left the door open for a potential reunion with his son, Prince Harry, ahead of the Invictus Games next month.
As per reports, Harry will return to the UK in May for the 10th anniversary of the Games, and his father is keen to see him given his current state of ill health. Charles and Harry have spoken in person since the King’s cancer diagnosis earlier this year, but on that occasion their meeting was a brief one.
The Daily Mirror now say that Charles wishes to meet with Harry again, and the prospect of “reconciling” is even said to be on the table.
The world was shocked to learn of King Charles’s cancer diagnosis following the monarch’s hospitalization for routine treatment on an enlarged prostate. Since then, Charles is said to have split his time between London (where he is undergoing his treatment) and the royal estate of Sandringham, his preferred place for rest.
The type of cancer Charles has, as well as what stage he is in, remains a closely guarded secret. Neither has much been let on with regards to his overall condition. Last week it was reported that the 76-year-old is now looking to resume his royal engagements, which should be taken as a positive sign, though it has not been claimed that he is cancer free.
In any case, sources insist that given his ailing health, Charles is more open to the idea of extending an olive branch to his son, Harry.
Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, have been somewhat ostracized from the Royal Family since their decision to move to the US and make a number of startling allegations regarding how they were treated in the UK.
An explosive Oprah Winfrey interview, a candid Netflix series, and one tell-all memoir from Harry later, and the Sussexes have caused damage that many believe is irreparable where their standing with the British monarchy is concerned.
Yet for all that Charles has apparently “left the door open” for an in-person meeting with his estranged son, in the hope of “reconciling”. That’s at least what royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told The Sun newspaper.
“The King has always kept the door open to Harry, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that he would invariably get a warm reception,” he said.
He added: “It will take its time. But clearly the situation has changed in recent weeks beyond all expectations. I don’t think it would be too difficult, it depends how you define reconcile. I think there’s a long way to go before Harry is bringing over Meghan and the children.”
Addressing the subject of Meghan specifically, Fitzwilliams labeled her “toxic”, suggesting that a degree of “trust” must be built before Charles would consider a meeting with her.
“Meghan is toxic. I’m not saying the Sussexes would launch any attacks to the Royal Family at this sort of time. But what is very, very clear is that if they want to build trust, they have a long way to go,” the commentator added.
“I never thought that Meghan would come over because of the hostility towards her here, but one has to emphasize that it’s obvious from the opinion polls. And of course, you’d get a press that was far from flattering, but that is linked to the Sussexes behaviour over the last four years.
“It may not be definite that she isn’t coming, but it’s most unlikely. Meghan’s reception would overshadow the message of the service, and you wouldn’t want that.”