Prince Harry was reportedly “alarmed” upon hearing the news that his father, King Charles III, was hospitalized on January 27th for a scheduled medical procedure, according to royal experts. The 74-year-old monarch was admitted to a London hospital to treat an enlarged prostate, a common condition in men of his age.
His wife, Queen Consort Camilla, has visited King Charles several times since he was admitted. The king is said to be in good spirits and working while in the hospital, even as he undergoes treatment.
The timing coincides with Harry’s sister-in-law, Princess Catherine, recently undergoing abdominal surgery herself. Royal watchers speculate this shared family health crisis could be an opportunity to mend fences within the monarchy.
As reported by Mirror, A source revealed that Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, “contacted both parties in different ways to pass on their concern and best wishes.” This outreach hints at a possible reunion on the horizon for the royals.
Relations have been strained since Harry and Meghan resigned from official duties in 2020 and moved to California. In 2021, the Sussexes then made damaging allegations about the royal family in an explosive TV interview with Oprah Winfrey.
Harry especially has had an infamously rocky bond with his father, King Charles. But the king’s hospitalization seems to have alarmed Harry and prompted him to reach out across the Atlantic.
Royal expert Katie Nicholl said, “It sounds like there have been exchanges and a progress in communication. If not direct talks, there have been well wishes sent via intermediaries.”
She believes both health scares have likely frightened Harry and made him reconsider his distance from his relatives back in Britain.
Fellow expert Jonathan Sacerdoti agreed, “Harry was clearly somewhat scared by his father’s illness despite their current fraught relationship. Charles is still his father and Harry must have felt worried hearing he required hospital treatment.”
“Meghan would no doubt have comforted Harry, but she might also realize this could be a moment to build bridges with the Royal Family given the health worries,” Sacerdoti added.
King Charles reportedly has an enlarged prostate, a gland near the bladder that can cause urinary symptoms as it grows larger with age. Treatment options range from medication to surgery.
While rarely fatal, an enlarged prostate that leads to sudden inability to urinate can become an emergency. Thus doctors likely decided on hospitalization for the king to closely monitor his condition.
The king is expected to be released in the coming days, and is reportedly still working throughout his hospital stay.
Queen Camilla has put on a brave face in public but is surely concerned for her husband’s health behind closed doors. She has been married to Charles for 17 years.
As for Princess Catherine, she had abdominal surgery for an undisclosed condition. The Princess of Wales was photographed leaving the hospital looking well, if pale.
Both Kate and Charles face weeks of recovery and restricted duties per doctor’s orders.
While the king’s illness appears minor, the health scares have rattled the royal family. Prince Harry seems especially troubled by the news of his aging father requiring medical treatment.
It remains to be seen whether Harry or Meghan will pay a visit to King Charles in person during his convalescence. But royal watchers are hopeful that the Sussexes’ supportive messages to the royal family hint brighter days ahead.
The king’s hospitalization may have shocked Prince Harry into reconsidering his distance from relatives in Britain. If a transatlantic family reunion results, it would be a silver lining to King Charles’ health woes.
