Prince Harrytraveled to the U.K. following the news of his fatherKing Charles’cancer diagnosis, but his trip home may not include a reunion with his brotherPrince William.
The Duke of Sussex, 39,arrived at London Heathrow Airporton Tuesday and traveled to Clarence House, the longtime residence of King Charles, 75. It’s believed that the last time the father and son were together was at the monarch’s coronation ceremony in May, which Harry attended before heading to the airport to return home immediately following the event. Prince Harry made the solo trip from California, where he lives with his wifeMeghan Markleand their two children, 4-year-old sonPrince Archieand 2-year-old daughterPrincess Lilibet.
“That is good,” a source close to the royal householdtells PEOPLE exclusivelyin this week’s cover story. “Hopefully [Harry] will bring the grandchildren at some point too, as that would be lovely for all of them."
King Charles and Prince Harry in 2019.Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage
Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage
While Prince Harry met with King Charles on Tuesday, just one day after his cancer news was made public, a royal source says there are “no plans” for Prince Harry and Prince William to get together.
Prince William, 41, has a full plate himself. He stepped away from royal engagements in recent weeks as he spends time caring for his three children — Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis — while his wife,Kate Middleton, recuperates from her recentabdominal surgery. The Princess of Wales, 42, is not expected to return to public life until at least Easter, the palace previously said.
Prince William and Prince Harry on July 1, 2021.YUI MOK/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
YUI MOK/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
The Prince of Wales isset to return to public dutieson Wednesday with an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle and the annual fundraising gala for the London Air Ambulance.
While heirs in other royal families around the world sometimes act as regents when the monarch is unwell or abroad, the case is different in the U.K. According to theHouse of Commons Library,regentsare only instated permanently in Britain.
King Charles and Prince William attend Royal Ascot in June 2019.Anwar Hussein/WireImage
Anwar Hussein/WireImage
Prince Harry laid bare the painful rift between himself and his family in the pages of his memoirSparereleased in Jan. 2022 — and the world learned the extent of the division between the brothers.
Nearly a year afterSpare’s publication, “absolutely nothing has changed,”author Omid Scobie told PEOPLEin the fall.
In fact, the hurt and anger between the two brothers — one, the Prince of Wales and future king and the other, the Duke of Sussex and Californian — has now hardened into something colder and more immovable, said Scobie: indifference.
“I saw Harry’s release ofSpareas his last attempt at telling his family how he’s felt for years,” says Scobie, who chronicles both the breakdown of the royal family and the weakening of the modern monarchy in his bookEndgame. “Because clearly there’s never been an open enough forum to have these conversations or share these feelings."
In writingEndgame,“I was talking to a source quite early on in the process, and they called Harry a ‘defector’ and said that was William’s view,” says Scobie. “These were two men who once upon a time were firmly aligned in their outlook. One of them had to move on to also protect the crown.”
Prince Harry, King Charles and Prince William.Karwai Tang/WireImage
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PEOPLE understands that the monarch told his two sons about the cancer diagnosis himself. The King also personally informed his siblings,Princess Anne,Prince AndrewandPrince Edward, before the news was made public.
King Charles was last seen attending church on Sunday at St. Mary Magdalene Church near Sandringham withQueen Camilla. Itmarked the monarch’s first outingsinceleaving the hospitalon Jan. 29, where he gave a wave to well-wishers on his way out of the private clinic.
source: people.com