Sons rally to support King – but stay apart
Prince of Wales thanks public for sympathy, while Harry seems relieved after reunion with his father
THE Prince of Wales has thanked the nation for the “kind messages of support” for his father and his wife, as he returned to public duty for the first time since the King’s cancer diagnosis was revealed.
The Prince, who has been at his wife’s bedside following her serious abdominal surgery, undertook his first engagements in nearly four weeks, expressing gratitude for the support “in recent days”.
“It means a great deal to us all,” he said. It comes after Buckingham Palace announced on Monday that the King had been diagnosed with an unspecified form of cancer and would be cancelling public engagements to undergo treatment as an outpatient.
Speaking at a fundraising gala for the London Air Ambulance, the Prince said he wanted to take the opportunity to give personal thanks, adding: “It’s fair to say the past few weeks have had a rather ‘medical’ focus.”
Tom Cruise, who once landed a helicopter on the lawn at Windsor Castle after being invited to tea with the late Queen, was among the gala attendees. He and the Prince posed for a photograph together, shook hands and met air ambulance crews.
His wife, the Princess of Wales, was at home recuperating from her surgery, while his father was at Sandringham embarking on a temporary new life of working from home for the duration of his cancer treatment.
The King had a telephone call with Rishi Sunak last night, with the Prime Minister wanting to convey his good wishes personally. Their formal weekly audiences are expected to return in person from Feb 21, subject to the Prime Minister’s diary and the monarch’s health.
Having received his first treatment for cancer on Monday, the King has now retreated to his Norfolk home to rest in the country with the Queen by his side.
Nevertheless, he is understood to have also been working on his red boxes and correspondence, and is in regular touch with senior aides as they get used to a new regime to protect the King’s health.
His younger son, the Duke of Sussex, flew back to California yesterday, 25 hours after he landed – an even shorter visit than his 28-hour whistle-stop trip for the Coronation.
Princes William and Harry did not meet or speak.
As the Prince of Wales arrived at a gala for the London Air Ambulance at the Raffles London Hotel, he told the assembled press: “We really appreciate everyone’s kind messages. Thank you.”
The Queen will return to public engagements today for the first time since her husband’s diagnosis, and the Princess Royal will continue her busy programme.
Prince Harry, 39, was seen smiling as he arrived at Heathrow airport shortly before 1.30pm before disappearing into the VIP Windsor Suite with his small entourage.
He appeared relaxed, seemingly relieved that his 30-minute reunion with the King had been worth the 10,000-mile round trip.
The Duke is believed to have stayed at a hotel – a clear indication that while the frost might be thawing in their relationship, there remains a long way to go.
And although he was given a police escort to ensure a rapid journey from Heathrow to Clarence House before the King, 75, departed for Sandringham, he is not believed to have had police protection for the rest of his short stay.
Both sides are acutely aware that if trust is to be rebuilt, it will be a slow and fragile process.
The Duke’s transatlantic dash was a dramatic gesture and one that was deeply appreciated by the King.
But it came with caveats. If he genuinely wants to repair the fractured relationship, their interactions must remain private.
With trust in Harry at an all-time low, one foot out of line would reverse the delicate progress, perhaps irreversibly.
‘It’s fair to say the past few weeks ahave had a rather “medical” focus’ ‘We really appreciate everyone’s kind messages. Thank you’