About 24 hours after arriving in London to see his father, it looks like Prince Harry is heading home to California. Harry landed in London on Tuesday afternoon, a day after it was announced King Charles had been diagnosed with cancer. The father and son’s reunion, which was the first time they’ve seen each other since last May’s coronation, was brief. According to CNN, Charles and Queen Camilla left London for Sandringham about 45 minutes after Harry arrived.
The visit came after Buckingham Palace announced that while the king was undergoing a recent procedure for an enlarged prostate, doctors observed “a separate issue of concern.” The palace did not specify what type of cancer the king has, but the New York Times reports that a palace official said it isn’t prostate cancer. According to the palace, he is receiving regular treatments and has paused public-facing engagements. The Independent reports that U.K. prime minister Rishi Sunak began Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting saying he was “shocked and sad” to hear about the king’s health.
Harry’s relationship with his father has been fraught in recent years. In his 2023 memoir, Spare, Harry wrote that he felt that the royal family — his father and brother, in particular — didn’t do enough to defend his wife, Meghan Markle, against a campaign of racist tabloid coverage. The drama between them ultimately led Meghan and Harry to step back from their positions as working royals in 2020. They subsequently moved to California, where they live with their two children, Archie and Lilibet.
Some hoped Tuesday’s reunion would lead to some reconciliation between Harry, William, and Charles, but according to People, royal sources say there are “no plans” for the brothers to see each other. Meanwhile, Prince William is currently taking care of his wife, Kate Middleton, as she recovers from surgery at home. The New York Post reports that Harry spent Tuesday night in a London hotel instead of any of the royal residences and he was spotted at Heathrow on Wednesday. Meghan and the children are believed to have stayed in California.
This post has been updated.