She explained to the Daily Express, "I wasn't surprised that Harry only visited briefly. I think he wanted to go directly to his dad and offer his support, but he didn't want to overstay his welcome either. The King's health issues seemed quite serious. Perhaps he will also want to return to his family in America." Although the visit was brief, McLaren noted that it could be seen as a positive step towards improving the relationship between Harry and his father. She added, "This seems like a very positive step towards developing a better relationship with his dad. I imagine that when the time is right, he may make a longer visit so that the King can meet his grandchildren face to face."
King Charles has had limited opportunities to spend time with his grandchildren, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, since Meghan Markle and Harry stepped down from their senior royal duties in 2020 and relocated to Montecito, California. On Monday, Buckingham Palace confirmed that King Charles had been diagnosed with non-prostate cancer while receiving treatment for an enlarged prostate in the hospital. The King will undergo regular medical treatment but has been advised to postpone public duties. The palace did not disclose the specific type of cancer. Despite his health condition, King Charles will continue to work behind the scenes on government matters and official documents. He is set to return to London from Sandringham on Monday to begin outpatient treatment.
Harry was spotted at Heathrow Airport in London following his visit to his father and is believed to have returned to the United States. Royal biographer Tom Bower provided a critical assessment of Prince Harry's prospects for reconciling with his father amidst the King's battle with cancer. Bower, speaking on talk TV, expressed doubt that Harry's long-standing criticisms of the royal family could be overlooked simply due to his father's illness. He remarked, "Harry has launched the most horrendous insults and attacks against the royal family, against his father, his stepmother Camilla, particularly his brother and Kate. It is incomprehensible how these terrible things he's said in his book and interviews can suddenly be canceled out just because of the terrible shock related to the family's health."
Despite the complexities surrounding their relationship, Prince Harry is currently in England and paid a visit to Clarence House to meet with King Charles, who is 75 years old. However, he left after just 30 minutes. Bower, the author of "Revenge: Meghan, Harry and the War Within the Windsor Dynasty," added that the Duchess of Sussex could potentially complicate matters for Harry in terms of reconciling with the King.
