Prince Harry tries to make peace with his father and brother, but all in vain
When King Charles announced his diagnosis, Prince Harry immediately boarded a plane from California to the UK to see his father. According to insiders, this is a sign that the tension between the Duke of Sussex and the royal family is easing.
"Father and son took small steps toward mending their broken relationship. I'm sure it was emotionally draining for both of them, but it was a step in the right direction," a People source adds about Prince Harry's brief visit to his homeland. The Duke of Sussex was grateful for the opportunity to speak directly with his father and support him.
While there are signs of reconciliation between Prince Harry and Charles III, his trip to the UK did not include a visit to his brother, Prince William. According to a palace source, Harry wanted to meet with William, but he refused. A former courtier suggests the Prince of Wales's "main concern" remains his wife Kate Middleton, who is recovering from abdominal surgery.
"It would be logical to visit my sister-in-law, who has undergone major surgery, and also to see my niece and nephews. But things are not normal. It's terribly sad," a source close to the royal family said.
"Family pain is an open sore. It's such a deep wound," adds Catherine Mayer, author of the biography Charles: Heart of a King.
Relations between the princes completely fell apart after the release of the Duke of Sussex's memoirs "Spare" and the Netflix documentary in which Meghan Markle criticizes the royal family.
"This all has to do with William's desire to protect the institution of the monarchy, which, in his opinion, Harry cannot be trusted. I don't think William will ever agree to Harry returning to the family unless he apologizes," British historian Robert told People magazine Lacy.
Prince Harry said on Good Morning America that he has more trips planned to his homeland and now hopes to "see my family as often as possible." The first visit is scheduled for May and will be dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games. However, a rapprochement with his elder brother remains unlikely, and it is even more doubtful that King Charles III will mediate their reconciliation.
"Of course he would like William and Harry to be friends again. But he knows that won't happen," said royal biographer Ingrid Seward.