What King Charles' cancer diagnosis will mean for royal rift with Prince Harry

Buckingham Palace confirmed today that King Charles, 75, was diagnosed with a form of cancer, which was detected while being treated for an enlarged prostate last month.

Charles spoke to his siblings and his sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, personally to deliver the news, with the Duke of Sussex now set to return to the UK from the US, where he lives with wife Meghan Markle, to be with his father.

Harry and Charles have had a fraught relationship since the Duke stepped down as a senior member of the royal family in 2020, with things going from bad to worse when he released his bombshell memoir Spare in 2023.

Is this the end of Harry's royal rift?

Speaking to The Sun, royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams, shared how he believes the royal rift will be set aside as the family comes together for Charles.

"The rift in the family is one thing, but there surely will be a good deal of solidarity among the royals because of what's happened and this includes Harry," he said. "I'm sure Harry will put aside the past right now for this serious issue. The royal family - including the Sussexes - it's so important that everyone is pulling in the right direction."

The royal expert continued, saying there is hope the family will "pull together" during this time.

"There will be concern from Prince Harry coming over, as he is his father, I sincerely hope it will be the moment that brings them together, families have known the struggle of cancer and this is clearly a circumstance no one foresaw," he said.

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"It is a deeply emotional time for the royal family and Harry is included in that, reconciliation could be hopeful with Sussexes but right now its about Charles and his treatment plan."

Harry and William last saw each other at the Queen's funeral, with the rift between them now so intense. They did not speak when Harry attended Charles' coronation.

Meghan will not join Harry to visit Charles

Meghan will not make the trip with Harry to the UK, with the former Suits star set to stay in Montecito with their two children, Archie, four, and Lilibet, two.

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The Duchess of Sussex did not attend her father-in-law's coronation, with Harry attending the event solo.

Meghan's most recent visit to the UK was last September, however, it was very brief – only 90 minutes – with the Duchess making a quick pitstop on her way to be reunited with Harry at the 2023 Invictus Games in Dusseldorf.

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