Prince Harry was reportedly unaware of his father’s recent hospitalization until he saw it on the news, like everybody else.
According to a royal insider, the Duke of Sussex, 40, “wasn’t told” about King Charles III’s latest startling health scare because Buckingham Palace “didn’t want to add to the drama.”
“My understanding is that they didn’t want to add to the drama,” the Sun’s royal editor, Matt Wilkinson, claimed on Friday, per Us Weekly. “They didn’t want to add to make it seem like it was more serious than it was.”
“Whereas when [King Charles was diagnosed with cancer], they told Harry before,” Wilkinson added, “and Harry flew back.”
The royal editor added that Harry only learned of his father’s hospital stay “through the news” and “not by Buckingham Palace ringing him or his team up to explain.”
It was revealed that King Charles, 76, was briefly admitted to the hospital – and forced to postpone several royal engagements – on March 27 after the monarch experienced “temporary” side effects from his ongoing cancer treatment. He was diagnosed with an unspecified form of cancer in February 2024.
“Following scheduled and ongoing medical treatment for cancer this morning, The King experienced temporary side effects that required a short period of observation in hospital,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement at the time. “His Majesty’s afternoon engagements were, therefore, postponed.”
“As a precautionary measure, acting on medical advice, tomorrow’s diary program will also be rescheduled,” the palace added. “His Majesty would like to send his apologies to all those who may be inconvenienced or disappointed as a result.”
King Charles later returned to Clarence House to recuperate after his stay at the hospital.
Although the king returned to his royal engagements by April 1, several sources urged the ailing monarch to step back from his royal duties amid his cancer battle – something Queen Camilla, 77, has also urged her husband to do.
“The trouble is, he’s been so conditioned to work that I don’t think he functions unless he’s working,” royal biographer Ingrid Seward told Newsweek after Charles’ latest hospitalization.
“When he’s not working, he’s probably a bit all over the place, I know I’m like that,” she continued. “He’s always working, and it’s just not his nature to take an afternoon nap, which I’m sure Camilla is trying to make him do.”
Despite concerns about his deteriorating health, King Charles and Queen Camilla arrived in Italy on Monday, April 7, marking the pair’s first state visit to the country since his coronation in May 2023.
The royal couple will also reportedly celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary in Rome on Wednesday.
As for Prince Harry, he has reportedly been left “deeply depressed and embarrassed” amid the ongoing “bullying” investigation into his Sentebale charity.
The Duke of Sussex also reportedly disagrees with the way his wife, Meghan Markle, 43, has been “exploiting” their two children, Archie, 5, and Lilibet, 3, to promote her new As Ever lifestyle brand.
