Prince Harry: I love my family and my father’s cancer diagnosis could bring us together
Duke opens up about his father’s cancer diagnosis and life in America
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.King Charles’s cancer diagnosis could help to heal rifts and reunify the royal family, Prince Harry has said as he revealed that he was “grateful” to spend time with his father last week.
In an interview set to air in the US on Friday, the Duke of Sussex will open up about his father’s diagnosis and life in California with his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, and their children.
“Yeah, I’m sure,” he told ABC’s Good Morning America show when asked if the King’s illness could help heal the family.
Buckingham Palace sent shockwaves through the UK and the world when it announced earlier this month that the monarch had an unspecified form of cancer.
Medics found the disease while the King underwent treatment for an enlarged prostate, which officials described as “benign” and unconnected to the cancer.
The dire news prompted Harry to dash home from the States to see his father, who has stepped back from public-facing duties while he receives treatment.
The visit fuelled speculation that Harry could begin to repair relations with his father and brother William, the Prince of Wales, which have become strained after Harry and Meghan stepped back from their duties as “working royals”.
But the prince was said to have only spent around 30 minutes with Charles at the King’s Clarence House residence and did not see his brother William at all.
But Harry, who said he planned to visit the UK more after his father’s diagnosis and that he “loved” his family, appeared to leave open the door for reconciliation.
“I think any illness, any sickness, brings families together,” he said. “I see it time and time again, and that makes me very happy.”
The duke said he and Meghan’s children were doing “great” and growing up “very fast”.
He also said that getting American citizenship was something that had crossed his mind but was not a high priority “for me right now”.
The Sussexes are in Canada staging several events with Invictus competitors to mark a year to go until Harry’s Invictus Games, for wounded and sick veterans and military, is staged in the country.
They are being followed by a film crew led by Will Reeve, the son of the late Superman star Christopher Reeve, who interviewed Harry in the winter sports town of Whistler, which is hosting the 2025 Invictus Games alongside Vancouver.
The breakdown in the bond between the royal brothers can be traced back to the early period of Harry’s relationship with wife Meghan when his then-fiancee had a falling out with the Princess of Wales in the run-up to their wedding.
The Sussexes, since stepping down as working royals in 2020 and moving to California, have aired allegations and grievances against the monarchy and members of the royal family that have also soured relations.
Meghan and Harry are bringing up their two children, Prince Archie, aged four, and two-year-old Princess Lilibet in the celebrity enclave of Montecito in California.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments