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King Charles III is ready to bury the hatchet with his estranged son, Prince Harry, after being diagnosed with cancer.
“[Charles] desperately wants to reconcile with Harry,” royal expert Katie Nicholl told “Entertainment Tonight” Tuesday.
Buckingham Palace announced Monday that Charles, 75, had been diagnosed with cancer — prompting the Duke of Sussex, 39, to immediately hop on a plane and fly from California to London to be by his father’s side.
Page Six confirmed that after landing at Heathrow Airport Tuesday without his wife, Meghan Markle, Harry made a “quick visit” to Clarence House to see Charles.
“His father personally telephoned him to inform him of his cancer diagnosis, [and] Harry jumped on the overnight flight from Los Angeles,” Nicholl noted.
King Charles III is desperate to make amends with son Prince Harry following the sovereign’s cancer diagnosis. Getty Images Harry rushed to the UK to be by his father’s side on Tuesday following the news of the king’s diagnosis. News Licensing / MEGAThe journalist speculated that the reunion between father and son was very “emotional,” as they have not been on good terms for years.
“The king would have been hugely relieved and comforted by the fact that Harry flew over,” she said, pointing out that the meeting was “probably quite difficult for both of them.”
However, the “New Royals” author said the visit was an integral part in easing tensions between the two.
“[Charles] desperately wants to reconcile with Harry,” royal expert Katie Nicholl said. Samir Hussein/WireImage“I think it’s absolutely fundamental and important and healing the rift,” she said.
Nicholl also claimed Harry’s reunion with his dad indicates “a real thawing in the relations between Charles and his son.”
“I know, for Charles, the door has always been left open regardless of some of the things Harry has written,” she said, referring to Harry’s scathing 2023 memoir “Spare,” in which the renegade royal claimed Charles had called him the spare heir to the British throne.
Nicholl said the father-son meeting on Tuesday was an important part in ending their “rift.” Getty Images “I know, for Charles, the door has always been left open regardless of some of the things Harry has written,” Nicholl said. Getty Images“I was told by a source very close to the king that whatever Harry has said or done, he loves his son,” she added.
The expert shared that Charles has every intention of repairing their relationship and wants to “have a relationship with his daughter-in-law and his grandchildren,” referring to Markle, 42, and her two kids with Harry: Prince Archie, 4, and Princess Lilibet, 2.
“I think when someone has a serious health scare like this, it does make you reassess things,” she said, “and I think that’s why Harry got on the first flight he could.”
Charles also reportedly wants a relationship with Meghan Markle, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. MEGAAs for whether Harry will make amends with his brother, Prince William, amid their falling out, Nicholl said, “I think that’s less certain.”
Harry has been on icy terms with Charles and the Prince of Wales — who is next in the line of succession to the British throne — since the redheaded royal and his wife resigned from their royal duties in 2020 and moved to Montecito, Calif.
After relocating, the couple conducted several interviews about their grievances with the monarchy and aired the family’s dirty laundry in their “Harry & Meghan” Netflix series and Harry’s book.
Charles, seen here with his wife, Queen Camilla, is stepping back from his public-facing royal duties as he starts treatment. AFP via Getty Images Harry has been on the outs with his dad since resigning from his royal duties in 2020. Getty ImagesWhile the Sussexes kept their distance from the royal family after leaving, they returned to the UK to mourn the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Sep. 8, 2022. Harry also attended the king’s coronation in May 2023 without Markle — though his trip was brief.
For more Page Six you love…
Listen to our weekly “We Hear” podcast Subscribe to our daily newsletter Shop our exclusive merchSeveral reports have indicated that Charles has been open to reconciling with his younger son for quite some time now, and the Sussexes had a phone call with the reigning monarch on his 75th birthday in November.
The Duke of Sussex has kept in touch with his dad despite tensions. Getty Images Harry is still beefing with his brother, Prince William. Getty ImagesHowever, Charles’ shocking cancer diagnosis may have helped the ice thaw a little faster.
The royal family revealed the disease was discovered after Charles underwent a successful procedure for an enlarged prostate.
He will postpone his public-facing royal duties as he receives treatment, though Charles will “continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual.”
