Prince Harry and King Charles were poised to reconcile this month during the Prince’s UK visit to celebrate the Invictus Games’ 10th anniversary. So what exactly went wrong? Royal fans witnessed a not-so-surprising twist to Harry’s UK visit on May 8 when a rep announced he would not reunite with his dad as speculated. Leading on from that, the media floated various reports that the two royals would seize the opportunity to reconcile as King Charles continued to battle cancer. While Harry’s rep attributed the change of plans to the monarch’s busy schedule, royal experts imply something less spiteful necessitated the king’s snub.
According to royal commentator Michael Cole, King Charles’ decision to decline Prince Harry’s attempt to reunite during the UK visit came from a place of practicality. Michael explained that being faced with an “unspecified cancer” was already harrowing enough for anyone. Having to do so, while rising to his duties as head of state was already a handful for the 75-year-old monarch. Hence, he couldn’t bear having something as triggering as his estranged son upset the equilibrium. He explained,
“It is upsetting to him that his younger son has said such heartless and cruel things, not just about himself, but about Queen Camilla, and that has gone home harder than anything else he could do.”
Michael Cole believed the monarch’s doctors knew this too. Hence, the only practical approach was to advise King Charles to remain “relaxed,” and clear his mind amid the cancer battle, as would any physician.
In the monarch’s case, any reconciliatory actions with his second son would upset his calm given the emotions involved and everything they had to rehash. Hence, to ensure his swift recovery, King Charles put off the potential reconciliation. Cole explained,
“[The king] didn’t want to be bothered with this because it is emotionally upsetting.”
His best efforts to avoid a triggering experience with his son didn’t last for so long, though. Royal expert Tom Quinn revealed that Prince Harry’s trip to Nigeria with his wife Meghan Markle left the monarch “absolutely furious.”
Tom attributed this to the royal elements in the Nigerian tour, which all but confirmed the royal family’s worst fears. Yet, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s party maintain their “personal” visit only served to promote the Invictus Games and other non-royal endeavors.
