The Duke of Sussex is scheduled to return to his homeland for the commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games. During his visit, it is expected that he will have a brief encounter with his father, who is currently undergoing treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer.
In an interview with Newsweek, Afua Hagan, a royal commentator based in the UK, suggested that the 75-year-old king's ill-health may have acted as a "great leveler," potentially thawing the frostiness between him and his youngest son.
For those unfamiliar with the situation, Harry hastily flew to the UK in February after receiving a personal notification about his father's diagnosis, expressing his concern and support. "When Harry was here just after the king's diagnosis, their meeting was rather brief. Hopefully, this time around, the king will have more time, and they can spend quality time together," Hagan shared with the outlet. "It will be beneficial for both of them."
Hagan further opined that the conflict between them might be less severe than perceived. While acknowledging that lingering issues and hurt likely persist on both sides, she emphasized the power of health crises as unifying forces.
"When events like this occur, people are often adept at putting past grievances behind them. 'Life is too short,' they think, looking towards the future and considering 'where do we go from here?'" explained the royal expert.
"I believe the king's cancer diagnosis has presented them with an opportunity to draw a line under past events. It may not necessarily involve a grand reckoning or one person admitting fault. Instead, it has given them a convenient pretext to move forward," added Afua.
