Prince Harry’s joke-fuelled speech after King Charles cancer shock
Prince Harry put on a remarkably upbeat display at an awards show in his first public appearance back in the US, after his brother Prince William refused to see him.
Royals
Don't miss out on the headlines from Royals. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The Prince of Wales never considered meeting his brother during his whirlwind trip to the UK this week because he has never apologised for causing the family years of pain.
It is understood Prince William continued with his first day back at work after his father’s diagnosis, and after caring for his wife who has undergone abdominal surgery, without expecting to meet Prince Harry.
Sources close to the Duke of Sussex said if the opportunity arose for him to see his brother he would have “gladly accepted it”.
Instead, Prince Harry returned home to LA the day after visiting his father at Clarence House – without seeing Prince William.
The Duke caused a painful rift with his family, with the publication of his book, Spare, in which he attacked the King for being “emotionally cold” when he didn’t hug him while delivering news his mother Diana had died; disclosed details of a fight with his brother in London in 2019, and revealed feuds between both the Princess of Wales and Duchess of Sussex.
Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine, told The Sun: “William would be upset that Harry yet again has chosen to make this visit to see his father a PR opportunity”.
“As far as William is concerned he has absolutely no interest in speaking to Harry until Harry behaves like a gentleman and apologises for the years of rudeness and slurs he has aimed at William and the Princess of Wales,” she said.
“William must be privately furious thinking over all the years how he supported Harry and at this one moment in his life when his 75-year-old father and wife of 13 years are both potentially seriously unwell, all Harry can think about is Harry and using it as an opportunity to announce his arrival and expect to see William.
“Harry can’t resist an opportunity to think about Harry and not the bigger picture.”
The Duke of Sussex made the 11-hour made dash from LAX to London Heathrow to visit his father on Wednesday, after the King telephone him to reveal he had been diagnosed with cancer during an operation for an enlarged prostate.
The visit is said to have been warmly received by the King, who reportedly delayed his helicopter home to Sandringham in Norfolk, where he has been recovering from treatment
PRINCE HARRY DISHES OUT JOKES AFTER UK TRIP
Prince Harry put on a remarkably upbeat display at an awards show just days after making a transatlantic dash to visit his cancer stricken father.
The royal, 39, had attendees surprised when he took to the stage during the 2024 NFL Honors in Las Vegas on Thursday night (local time).
But before presenting the Walter Payton Man of the Year award to Pittsburgh Steelers football player Cameron Heyward, Prince Harry had time for a few quips.
He joked the US had “stole rugby from us and made it your own” in reference to how American football was created.
“Instead of passing it backwards, just pass it forwards,” he said.
“Why not wear pads and a helmet? All kidding aside, what you guys do on and off the field is truly remarkable.
“You are role models for millions in the way you carry yourselves and the way you give back.”
The awards were the first time the prince was seen publicly since returning from his 24-hour trip to London to visit his father, King Charles, who was diagnosed with cancer this week.
Prince Harry was spotted exiting a US Delta flight that landed at LAX at 6.16pm local time on Wednesday.
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.
More Coverage
Originally published as Prince Harry’s joke-fuelled speech after King Charles cancer shock