Harry appears sombre as he arrives at Clarence House to be at father King Charles' side amid shock cancer diagnosis
6 February 2024, 15:04 | Updated: 6 February 2024, 17:36
A sombre-looking Prince Harry has arrived at Clarence House this afternoon as he rushes to be at his father King Charles' side following his shock cancer diagnosis.
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The reunion between Harry and his father was described as a "brief meeting" after the monarch personally informed his son that he was undergoing treatment for cancer.
A convoy of cars made up of two blacked-out Land Rovers flanked by police vehicles pulled up to the palace just after 3pm this afternoon.
Harry appeared sombre from within the car as he prepared to see his father face-to-face for the first time since the Coronation last year.
The Duke of Sussex landed alone at London Heathrow this afternoon after an 11-hour overnight flight from LAX. He has cleared his calendar to make the emergency trip to be at his father's side.
Harry's wife Meghan and their two children Archie and Lilibet have stayed at their Montecito mansion in California. It's still unknown if the family will join Harry as he rushes to be by his father's side.
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It is not known if Harry will stay in central London during his visit, or if he will base himself in Windsor at his former home Frogmore Cottage.
The Duke was last night seen arriving at the private terminal at LAX in his personal black Range Rover.
Flood warnings and extreme weather currently battering California are thought to have delayed the duke from flying home and rushing to his father's side.
It comes after the King returned to London from Sandringham to begin his cancer treatment. The Royal Standard has been raised over Buckingham Palace indicating the King is in London. He normally stays at Clarence House when in the capital.
King Charles informed Harry of his illness over the phone, in what is said to have been a warm conversation, before the formal announcement was made by Buckingham Palace yesterday.
It is unknown where Prince Harry will reside during his time in the UK as he was evicted from Frogmore Cottage last year.
Buckingham Palace announced on Monday evening at 6pm that Charles had cancer.
He does not have prostate cancer, although the disease was discovered during treatment for a benign enlarged prostate.
No details have been shared on the kind of cancer the king has, the stage of the cancer, or his prognosis.
Charles and Harry's relationship has been strained in recent years, as the Duke and his wife Meghan Markle stepped back from being senior royals in early 2020.
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But Harry and Meghan are earlier said to have sent get well messages to King Charles as he entered treatment for his enlarged prostate last month.
Charles is thought to have told his children earlier than the public announcement was made.
Some have speculated that a 'silver lining' of Charles' diagnosis may be that it brings him and William closer with Harry again.
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Ingrid Seward, a royal commentator, told LBC's Andrew Marr that "often it takes an illness, or a death, to solder these very tricky family relationships.
"But of course the death of the Queen didn't solder it together, but perhaps the worry of their father will - but I really find it very difficult to speculate."
Grant Harrold, a former butler to King Charles, said that he had "no doubt" that the King's' diagnosis would bring the family closer together again.
He added: "I know how much [Harry] loves his father, so it doesn't surprise me if he's returning to the UK."
