Prince Harry ‘changed flight’ to get back to Meghan Markle

Prince Harry spent just 24 hours in Britain to visit his cancer-stricken father and it appears he couldn’t wait to get back to the US.

After a flying visit to the UK to see his ill father, Prince Harry departed London an even earlier flight to get back to California.

The prince was spotted exiting a US Delta flight that landed at LAX at 6.16pm local time (1.16pm AEDT) on Wednesday night local time.

It’s understood that he switched to the Delta flight because the British Airways flight he was supposed to take was “delayed by two hours”, the Express reported.

Prince Harry fled the UK after just 24 hours to get home to the US. Picture: Getty Images for Project Healthy Minds

Flight records showed that the BA flight 269 that he was expected to take was due to depart Heathrow at 3.05pm (4.05am AEDT) but actually left at 5.19pm (6.19am).

After his arrival back into Los Angeles, onlookers said the prince was shadowed by one security guard as he dropped off his bag in the boot of a car at LAX’s exclusive “Private Suites” area and was driven away.

The royal returned to the US after travelling 9000km for what has been reported as a brief 30-minute meeting with his father, King Charles following his cancer diagnosis.

Meanwhile, the Duchess of Sussex stayed in the US with Archie, four, and Lilibet, two, with one expert saying she “recognised” the importance of giving her husband space.

King Charles spent just 30 minutes with his youngest son who had flown from Los Angeles to see him. Picture: Getty Images

Prince Harry flew into London on a 10-hour flight and arrived at Clarence House at 2.42pm (3.42am AEDT) on Tuesday before spending around 30 minutes with his father.

They held a “brief meeting” before the King and Camilla were driven to Buckingham Palace where a helicopter was waiting to take them back to Sandringham in Norfolk.

The Duke is not believed to have seen his brother Prince William or sister-in-law Princess Catherine, who is recovering from her abdominal surgery and on extended leave.

While waiting for the duke to return home, Ms Markle was pictured smiling to photographers as she drove around near the couple’s Montecito home.

Prince Harry’s relationship with King Charles remains strained. Picture: AFP

HARRY FLEES UK FOR US

Prince Harry didn’t meet with his estranged brother, Prince William, during his brief trip to the UK to see his father.

Prince Harry, dressed casually in jeans, a T-shirt and jacket, was pictured arriving at the VIP Windsor Suite at Heathrow’s Terminal 5, just before 2pm local time (1am AEDT) on Tuesday.

The Duke of Sussex was said to have stayed in a luxury hotel rather than a royal residence during his one night in the UK following a 45-minute meeting with his father, King Charles.

The Prince was seen smiling as he arrived at Heathrow Airport for the flight back to Los Angeles where he chatted briefly with onlookers.

Prince Harry did not see Prince William or Princess Catherine during his brief visit to Britain. Picture: Getty Images

Sky News Australia host Piers Morgan said the shortness of Prince Harry’s visit showed the iciness that still existed between King Charles and his younger son after the “grenades” he had been throwing at the royals in recent years.

“I thought the fact that he got on the first plane he could is indicative of how serious the situation may well be with King Charles,” Morgan said.

“Clearly any cancer when you’re 75 years old is going to be serious and the fact that Harry flew from California almost immediately reflects that.

A car carrying Prince Harry is driven to Clarence House in London where he was reunited with King Charles. Picture: AFP

“But it’s a bit strange that he would fly 6000 miles, taking a whole day to get here, and he ends up with reportedly 30 minutes, according to The Sun, with his father at Clarence House in London before his father gets on the helicopter to go to the estate at Sandringham.

“I think in a normal family if you flew across the world to see a member of your family, a very close member, you would expect to get a little more face time than 30 minutes.

“I think that’s indicative still of the iciness between Harry and all the royals, including his father and particularly his brother William, who he didn’t see at all.”

Prince Harry touched down in London on Tuesday afternoon local time, less than 24 hours after the announcement about the King’s health was made by Buckingham Palace.

The meeting between the pair – without the Duchess of Sussex and the couple’s children – raised hopes they will repair their fractured relationship and also prompt a reconciliation with Prince William.

The brothers have reportedly not spoken in months because of bad feeling caused by Harry’s high profile public criticism of his family.

“It’s telling that Prince Harry has left the country without making an effort to see his brother, that says it all,” royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams said.

“The relationship between Harry and William has always been complicated and will take longer to heal than the one with his father.”

Earlier this week, King Charles kept his helicopter waiting so he could see his youngest son at Clarence House.

Their meeting was thought to have lasted little more than half an hour, with Prince Harry leaving Clarence House shortly after.

It was the first time father and son have met in private since the Queen’s funeral in September 2022, although they have spoken by phone.

It comes after the 75-year-old King was seen in public for the first time since his cancer diagnosis on Tuesday when he left Clarence House the day after starting cancer treatment.

Originally published as Prince Harry ‘changed flight’ to get back to Meghan Markle