24 February 2024 , 16:02
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The Royal Family finds itself in a serious shortage of working members, with both King Charles and the Princess of Wales off-duty for the time being as they deal with health issues - but according to a source we shouldn't expect Harry to return to duties any time soon.
Charles, who has been diagnosed with cancer, is retreating from "public-facing duties" whilst he undergoes treatment, in line with medical advice, Buckingham Palace has said, and Kate, who is recovering from what Kensington Palace has called a "planned abdominal surgery", is unlikely to resume engagements until at least Easter-time.
When the news of King Charles' diagnosis broke, Prince Harry said he "jumped on a plane and went to go see him as soon as I could" in a recent interview with Good Morning America, during which he also said "Yeah I'm sure", when he was asked if it was possible his father's ill health could have a "reunifying" impact on his family, with whom he has enjoyed a strained relationship for the last few years.
According to reports in The Times, Harry's desire to put the past behind them and mend relations with his family even extends to a willingness to return to the UK to conduct royal duties, if needed, "it is understood that Harry wants to make an offer to make a limited return to royal duties."
However, according to a friend of Prince William's speaking anonymously to Vanity Fair, it isn't likely that the rest of the royals will take Harry up on his offer to return to help fill in the gaps left by Kate and Charles as they focus on their health.
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"The brothers are barely speaking so the idea of William wanting Harry to come back and represent the firm is both laughable and unthinkable," the source was quoted as saying.
Harry's visit back to the UK was a fairly brief one and his meeting with Charles was reportedly kept short by the last-minute nature of the trip, and the monarch's limited availability.
When speaking to Good Morning America, Harry declined to provide details on the status of the monarch's health, saying "That stays between me and him" and he expressed that he was "grateful" to have had the opportunity to spend even a short time with his father, although it is reported that Harry did not see his elder brother William during his short visit to the UK.
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