SHOULD HARRY BE BROUGHT BACK INTO THE FOLD?
Fate deals a rough hand to royalty just as much as to ordinary folk. The difference (and current problem) for the monarchy being that they are a professional firm, as well as a family.
As both King Charles and the Princess of Wales deal with cancer, their absence has made that brutally apparent.
The sympathetic outpouring of good wishes for Kate, as she emerges from a really tough time, will be a welcome boost to morale for the Windsors.
The princess has dealt with major abdominal surgery, an extended stay in hospital (when she didn’t see her kids), and a torrent of conspiracy theories about her absence from public life.
Now, she and the family have escaped to the solitude and protection of the Norfolk countryside after the public airing of her cancer treatment – something that has caused immense private anguish to them all.
I also feel incredibly sorry for Prince William. After all, he lost his mother when he was 15, effectively lost his brother Harry in 2020, his father is also undergoing cancer treatment and he still has to put on a brave face in public.
Proof, if ever it were needed, that wealth and privilege don’t protect you from life’s vicissitudes.
And perhaps also a timely reminder that, despite the recent drama in the Royal Family of late, they are still human.
They bleed, and they hurt, just like us.
And they should certainly be allowed their privacy to rest and recuperate. Yet, this presents a real problem for The Firm.
There is Queen Camilla putting in a shift, though at 76, there are physical limitations on what she can do and how far she can travel.
Of course, that redoubtable royal warhorse, Princess Anne, 73, can be relied upon to do much of the heavy lifting, plus the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Edward and Sophie, have stepped to the fore. But is it now the time to summon the subs bench? Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie are sensible, lovely girls and while they do have actual jobs, I don’t see why they can’t be drafted in for a bit of royal glad-handing. They, too, have seen the sudden impact of cancer as their mother, Sarah, Duchess of York, had a mastectomy last year and treatment for melanoma. And what about Prince Harry? When he came to see his father in February, he indicated he would take on royal duties if required. His star power and natural empathy are undeniable. Despite everything, he is still family.