Mirror readers divided over Prince Harry’s 26-hour stay in UK visiting royals

16 February 2024 , 12:34

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Around 46% say Harry should have stayed longer with the royals (Image: Getty Images)

Prince Harry has revealed he’s "grateful" that he was able to visit King Charles after his shocking cancer diagnosis - but do you think he should have spent longer with the Royal Family?

The Duke of Sussex jetted to London on February 6 to visit his father, but was pictured at Heathrow airport just 26 hours later. He was reported to have arrived at Los Angeles International Airport at around 2.20am on Thursday morning.

During his brief stint in the UK Harry spoke to the King for 12 minutes, which is reported to be their first private conversation in 16 months. Speaking to Good Morning America today, 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."

When asked if an illness in the family could have a "reunifying effect", he responded: "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. I think any illness, any sickness brings families together."

The King was said to be "touched" by his son’s gesture of flying in from the States to visit him, but others have stated that the fleeting return only served to "stir the pot". Speaking to The Sun, royal expert Robert Jobson said: "Charles probably didn't want all the drama." He went on to claim: "Harry brings with him a certain drama."

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The prince reportedly spent his single night at a London hotel and is not believed to have seen his older brother Prince William. A source told The Mirror that William is focusing his attention on Princess Kate's surgery recovery, and there was "nothing in the diary" for them to meet.

Tensions between the siblings have hit breaking point in recent years, especially since the release of Harry’s bombshell memoir Spare - where he claimed William physically attacked him. The Duke is expected to return to the UK in May for the 10th birthday of the Invictus Games, which is due to take place at St Paul’s Cathedral.

We asked Mirror readers if Harry should have spent longer with the royals, and a staggering 46 percent said 'Yes'. A hefty 6,558 people took part in our poll, and a solid 3,006 believe the Duke should have extended his visit.

Voicing their opinions in the comments section, one reader wrote: "I do believe he should have spent a few days longer with him. Whether they have treated him wrongly, Harry, stand up, be counted, and say, he is my father, And whatever anybody else thinks, he should make sure his father is ok. I wish your father, our king, a speedy recovery."

Another penned: "He only spent 30-mins with Charles and then jetted back to LaLaland the next day, where as he could have gone to Sandringham to see Charles but no it was more important to jet off to Las Vegas for an award ceremony, and then he's jetting off to the Super Bowl, then to Canada, oh yes he's certainly got his priorities right the same as usual."

A third shared: "He should stay longer for few weeks after all it's his dad," while a fourth agreed: "Would you come all that way for 30-mins, seems strange to me."

"Just a 30-minute conversation with his father then flies back home to parade himself on stage at NFL awards. If he truly cared he would have phoned his father to see if he was up to seeing him and arranged a longer stay so they could have some quality time together," added another.

A fifth vented: "Travelling all the way from LA to UK for a barely a 30-minute visit! Now on the way back less than 26-hours! Very environmentally friendly! Why didn’t he do a zoom meeting??"

Meanwhile, 41 percent said Harry should not have spent longer with the Firm. Taking to the comments, one reader expressed: "I think he did the right thing coming to find out about his father's cancer and what treatment he will get."

Another echoed: "He did the right thing. He dropped everything and visited his father. He can always return to the UK and stay longer if time permits." While a third posted: "In my opinion that answer is No.

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"It would seem none of them wanted him here at all since no one made any arrangements to meet up with him and no one offered him accommodation whilst he was here. So what use would he have been to anyone if he had stayed longer? None, obviously. He'd be a spare."

A fourth penned: "No, it's Harry's choice how long he stayed," while another wrote: "Fact he returned to his dear wife and little ones also had his own commitments. No reason to remain in the UK."

Around 13 percent selected the option 'Other' in our poll, as one user shared: "He came to see his father and that's what he did. I was hoping this might mend bridges. Terrible when there's a rift in any family, there's blame on both sides."

Please note that the poll is still live, so these results may change after the article has been published.

You can still vote in the poll HERE to have your say on the royal rift. Do you think Harry should have spent longer with the royal family? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Freya Hodgson