King Charles III, who is currently battling cancer, has been urged to meet privately with his son Prince Harry, according to royal commentator Angela Mollard. Writing for him daily mailMollard expressed disbelief that the monarch had not arranged even a brief meeting with Harry.
“I am surprised that the monarch does not meet his own son, even briefly. “The safety of our children is never guaranteed and having been diagnosed with cancer I would have thought the King might have had reason to consider the fragility of our existence,” she wrote.
“Thoughts about mortality often lead families to at least try to heal the wounds.” He explained that it is a chance for the royal family and Harry to end the rift, adding: “If ever there was a time to tentatively extend an olive branch, this is it.”
“It might have been that way if the couple had enjoyed a cup of tea and a quick chat about their grandchildren without any of us knowing. After all, any reconciliation could only happen through small steps and Harry’s commitment not to talk about it.”
The writer also admitted: “Harry’s behavior and betrayal of the royal family has been monstrous. Especially his criticism of Queen Camilla and the Prince and Princess of Wales. But we never know how much time we have to make peace. “We’ve only done it right now.”
Mollard suggested that a private meeting between King Charles and Prince Harry could serve as an act of kindness and as a test. “The King’s meeting with Harry could have been both a kindness and a test: the former because being a father is an act of unconditional love; the latter because Harry, quite rightly, needs to regain the trust of his family.”
Mollard, drawing on the example of the Van Straubenzee family, highlighted the unpredictable nature of life. “You never know when you might lose a child…or someone you love,” he wrote.
The Van Straubenzee family is closely related to the royal family, and Prince William and Prince Harry share a strong bond with them. On Wednesday, the Prince of Wales held investitures at Windsor Castle and conferred an MBE on Claire van Straubenzee, a family confidant whose son Henry, Prince Harry’s best childhood friend, was tragically killed in a car accident at the age of 18 in 2002.
The strained relationship between King Charles and Prince Harry has been a subject of intense public scrutiny. The gap widened following Harry and Meghan Markle’s decision to step down as royals and move to California in 2020. Later interviews and Harry’s memoirs Replacement further strained the relationship, revealing personal details about the royal family and criticizing their treatment of Meghan.
Mollard believes that despite the challenges, King Charles should extend an olive branch to Harry, particularly in light of his own health problems. The monarch was recently diagnosed with cancer, a fact that underlines the fragility of life and the importance of family ties. Meeting Harry privately would be a gesture of goodwill and a step toward reconciliation, Mollard maintains.
Meanwhile, Prince William continues to fulfill his royal duties while supporting his father and family during this difficult time. He remains close to the Van Straubenzee family and recently honored Claire van Straubenzee, who has provided significant support to the royal family over the years.