Prince Harry departed London 24 hours after arriving in the United Kingdom to see King Charles III amid the monarch’s cancer battle.
The Duke of Sussex was seen traveling back to Heathrow airport on Wednesday, a day after he had a “brief” meeting with the King that lasted “45 minutes” after Buckingham Palace announced the King’s cancer diagnosis on Monday, The Sun reported.
It was the first time the two met in person since the duke made the trip to the U.K. in September 2022 for his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral, the Daily Mail noted. The royal did make the trip back to London for the King’s coronation in May 2023, but it is believed the two never interacted, the outlet noted.
Prince Harry is going to break the record for how little time a person can spend in the UK on a single trip 🤭
Already on his way home ✈️🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/IVqACHbuD8
— Julieth ❀ (@troubleshade) February 7, 2024
One royal source claimed the meeting was “brief” because the King was tired after undergoing a cancer treatment, but said that the monarch is “coping magnificently. If you didn’t know what was the matter, you wouldn’t have any idea that he had any condition at all.”
A source close to the duke said he had “no plans” to meet with anyone else in his family, including his brother Prince William, amid their reportedly strained relationship following Harry’s initial decision to step down from his senior royal role with his wife Meghan Markle in 2020. It’s also believed he didn’t meet with the sister-in-law Kate Middleton, who’s recovering following abdominal surgery.
“The Duke’s primary reason to travel to the UK is to visit his father,” a source told Daily Mail. “If the opportunity were to arise to see the Prince of Wales then the Duke would have gladly accepted it.”
On Monday, Buckingham Palace announced the King was diagnosed with cancer during his recent “hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement.”
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“Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer,” the statement read, without providing further information. “His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties.”
“Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual,” the statement added. “The King is grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention, which was made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure. He remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible.”
“His Majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer,” the statement concluded.
The royal made the trip to London solo, leaving the Duchess of Sussex and their two kids, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, at home in Southern California.
The King ascended to the throne in September 2022 following the death of his mother at 96.
Related: Prince Harry Arrives In London Following King Charles’ Cancer Diagnosis