02 March 2024 , 09:16
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The relationship between the King's two sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, has been sour in recent years and during the Duke of Sussex's brief visit to the UK at the beginning of February, the Prince of Wales made it publicly clear there were no plans for them to meet.
Royal commentator Victoria Murphy said it was "really interesting" that not only William did not want to see Harry when he made the trip to visit their father, but also that he was "happy" for people to know that he had no plans to see him. According to the journalist, who regularly contributes to Good Morning America and CBS News programmes, this shows how "significant" the hostilities between them are.
In a recent ABC documentary about Prince Harry's family and the Invictus Games, which he is passionate about, Ms Murphy said: "I thought it was really interesting not just that William didn't want to see Harry when he came over to the UK, but he was happy for people to know that he had no plans to see him. I think that says a lot about how significant those hostilities still are."
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Prince William made it clear he had no plans to meet his brother (Getty Images)
Harry said he loves his family and hopes for a reconciliation (AFP via Getty Images)Harry, 39, cleared his diary to fly to London to be with his father despite their troubled relationship after the King was diagnosed with cancer. Sources close to the Duke, who now lives in Montecito, California, suggested he would have welcomed an opportunity to meet with his brother William "if the opportunity were to arise".
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A source said: "The Duke's primary reason to travel to the UK is to visit his father. If the opportunity were to arise to see the Prince of Wales then the Duke would have gladly accepted it."
The King personally called both his sons, as well as his siblings the Princess Royal, the Duke of York, and the Duke of Edinburgh, to inform them of his cancer diagnosis, palace officials confirmed. Harry is understood to have agreed to delay his visit to the UK until a public announcement was made by Buckingham Palace.
Following his brief visit, Harry said he was "grateful" to see his father and spend time with him as he declared: "I love my family." Speaking to Good Morning America, the Duke of Sussex added: "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."
Harry said he was 'grateful' to see his father Charles last month (Getty Images)When asked if the diagnosis could have a "reunifying effect" amid their feud, Harry said he is certain it will. "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," he told the host. However, Harry refused to discuss his father's condition and said: "That stays between me and him."
The Mirror has contacted Kensington Palace for comment.