Fresh details surrounding Prince Harry‘s visit to London to see King Charles III after the monarch’s cancer diagnosis have surfaced, and they may offer clues as to why the prince chose to stay at a hotel.
As previously reported, the first private, face-to-face meeting between King Charles and Prince Harry since the death of Queen Elizabeth took place earlier this week, but is thought to have lasted barely 30 minutes.
It’s been reported that Harry – estranged from the royal family since his highly-publicized move to the US – jumped on a flight to return to his homeland soon after learning of his father’s cancer diagnosis.
Whilst the pair haven’t seen eye-to-eye in recent times, Harry is said to have gone to see Charles immediately after landing in London on Tuesday (February 6). Just what they talked about will likely never reach the public’s ears.
King Charles’ cancer diagnosis
Buckingham Palace announced on Tuesday that King Charles has been diagnosed with cancer less than a year and a half after the death of his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth.
The Palace did not specify what cancer Charles has, nor what stage it was discovered. The diagnosis was disclosed after the monarch underwent a routine procedure for an enlarged prostate, however according to the BBC it is not prostate cancer.
“During The King’s recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer,” the statement from Buckingham Palace read.
The statement added that Charles would postpone public duties for treatment, but projected optimism about his prognosis.
“His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties. Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake state business and official paperwork as usual,” the statement read.
“The King is grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention, which was made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure. He remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible,” it continued.
Prince Harry stayed at a hotel
Following news that Prince Harry stayed at a hotel when coming to visit King Charles, many people questioned why he didn’t stay at the palace or with other family members.
According to Grant Harrold, the former butler of King Charles III, Prince Harry’s decision to stay in a luxurious hotel during his visit was a deliberate move to demonstrate his financial independence from the royal family.
Harrold, who had a longstanding working relationship with King Charles III, told the New York Post: “It’s strange he’s not staying at any royal residences because obviously, when they were growing up, they had rooms at Clarence House and at Highgrove.”
Though, he also said that he believed that Harry made this move to “prove that he was grown up enough to fund himself.”
However, Harrold expressed concern about the security implications of Prince Harry’s decision, particularly in light of his heightened security measures since stepping back from his royal duties. He believes that strained familial relationships, possibly between Prince Harry and his brother Prince William, could have influenced the choice of accommodation.
“Obviously, it’s not the best sign if he’s staying at a hotel, because you’d have thought he’d possibly stay with his brother [Prince William] and sister-in-law [Kate Middleton] potentially, or at one of his father‘s homes.”
He went on to say: “If there is an ongoing fallout between him and his brother, it’s possible that he may not have been given the offer to stay.”
Despite differing opinions and continued scrutiny surrounding the royal family over the past few years, there were expressions of support for Prince Harry’s visit to his father amidst the monarch’s health crisis.
As the royal family navigates this difficult period, it is hoped that shared concern for King Charles III’s health will foster reconciliation and unity among its members. Though, so far, this is yet to be seen.