Prince Harry has opened up about his father, King Charles’, recent cancer diagnosis, marking the first time he has spoken publicly about it.
The Duke of Sussex, 39, made a swift journey to the U.K. last week, to spend precious time with his 75-year-old father after Buckingham Palace disclosed the monarch’s health challenges.
Reflecting on how he learned of his father’s condition, Harry told Good Morning America on Friday, “I spoke to him. I jumped on a plane and went to go see him as soon as I could.”
Expressing his gratitude for the opportunity to be by his father’s side, Harry said, “Look, I love my family. The fact that I was able to get on a plane and go and see him and spend any time with him, I’m grateful for that.”
It’s been claimed that the King personally shared his diagnosis with both his sons Harry and Prince William, along with other close relatives, prior to the public announcement.
While the specific type of cancer afflicting Charles hasn’t been disclosed publicly, the palace has clarified that it isn’t prostate cancer, following his recent medical procedure for an enlarged prostate.
When asked about his father’s health prognosis, Harry respectfully declined to elaborate, saying, “That stays between me and him.”
Regarding the potential impact of King Charles’ illness on bringing the royal family closer together, Harry said, “Absolutely. Yeah, I’m sure. Throughout all these families, I see it on a day-to-day basis, the strength of the family unit coming together.”
Acknowledging the physical distance separating him from his father during this challenging time, Prince Harry noted, “I have my own family, as we all do. My family and my life in California is as it is. I’ve got other trips planned that would take me through the U.K. or back to the U.K., so I’ll stop in and see my family as much as I can.”
Last Tuesday, it’s understood that the father and son shared a brief private moment at Clarence House before King Charles and Queen Camilla departed London for Sandringham.
This marked their first encounter since the coronation ceremony in May 2023, for which Prince Harry also made a brief solo trip to the U.K.
Following their withdrawal from official royal duties in 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex settled in Montecito, California. Despite occasional returns to the U.K., Harry infrequently reunites with King Charles and other family members.
Harry’s recent memoir, Spare, released in January 2022, laid bare the emotional strain within the royal family.
Harry and his wife Meghan Markle, 42, are currently in Canada to participate in the One Year to Go celebrations for the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025.
