Prince Harry flew to London to be with King Charles III after his cancer diagnosis was revealed, but what happened during the father and son reunion?
Buckingham Palace released a statement on Monday, revealing that King Charles has been diagnosed with cancer following a recent health screening.
The diagnosis, unrelated to the recent surgery the 75-year-old monarch underwent, has been identified as a separate form of cancer detected during medical procedures for an enlarged prostate.
Doctors have assured the public that it is not prostate cancer, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the concerning news. However, King Charles has commenced a series of treatments, leading medical advisors to advise him to postpone public engagements for the foreseeable future.
Prince Harry found out the news from his father and swiftly boarded a flight from Los Angeles to London to be with the King during this difficult time.
The Duke of Sussex landed at Heathrow at lunchtime after a ten-and-a-half-hour overnight flight from the US.
Despite initial plans for King Charles, aged 75, to fly to Sandringham via helicopter, he delayed his departure to ensure the long-awaited meeting with Harry, per News.com.au.
Sources close to the King reported that he was "doing very well" and appeared "entirely his normal self." A friend who saw His Majesty stated: "If you didn’t know there was anything wrong with him you wouldn’t know."
During their brief reunion at Clarence House, the King kept his helicopter waiting as a gesture of appreciation for his son's impromptu transatlantic journey.
Their meeting, lasting little more than 30 minutes, was marked by smiles and a sense of optimism, despite the somber circumstances.
The Duke, accompanied by his entourage, departed Clarence House around 45 minutes after their arrival, leaving King Charles visibly content. This encounter marked the first private meeting between father and son since the passing of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022, although they have maintained contact via phone.
The King, visibly uplifted by the reunion, was pictured alongside Camilla in the State Bentley, waving to well-wishers during their brief journey between Clarence House and Buckingham Palace.
Following their departure, the King and Queen proceeded with their scheduled helicopter flight to Sandringham, where King Charles will balance time between his country residences and London for necessary medical treatments.
Despite the hopeful atmosphere surrounding their meeting, there are no current plans for Harry to join the King at Sandringham, with the Duke expected to return to his Montecito home in the US after a brief stay in the UK.
While the King and Prince enjoyed their long-awaited reunion, Prince William remained in Windsor, tending to his wife Kate, who continues her recovery from abdominal surgery.
