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‘No plans’: Prince William’s shock move as Prince Harry returns to UK after King’s diagnosis

Prince William has allegedly made his thoughts on a potential reunion with estranged brother Prince Harry clear after their father’s diagnosis.

Harry snubs Prince William while visiting sick King Charles

Prince William allegedly has “no plans” to see his estranged brother Prince Harry after their father’s shock cancer diagnosis.

The rift between the two brothers appears wider than ever after California-based Prince Harry reunited with King Charles at the royal residence Clarence House in London.

It was the first time in 16 months that cancer-stricken King Charles had sat down with his son, who rocked the royal family with his explosive tell-all memoir.

Prince William and Prince Harry, at the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, are no longer on speaking terms. Picture: Getty Images
Prince William and Prince Harry, at the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, are no longer on speaking terms. Picture: Getty Images

Hopes that Prince William would reunite with his brother, who is in the UK on a solo visit without wife Meghan Markle, appear to have been quashed.

Prince William does not intend to catch up with his younger brother and will instead focus on his wife Princess Catherine’s recovery after abdominal surgery, an insider told The Sun.

The source said: “There are no plans for Harry’s visit to act as some kind of vehicle for reconciliation.”

The once-close brothers are no longer on speaking terms amid the fallout of Megxit, the revelations in Prince Harry’s autobiography, Spare, as well as his bombshell Netflix series.

Sources close to Prince Harry said he would meet Prince William “if the opportunity were to arise”.

PRINCE WILLIAM TO RETURN TO ROYAL DUTIES

Prince William has given a date he will return to frontline engagements after cancelling his diary for three-and-a-half weeks to care for Princess Catherine after she underwent abdominal surgery.

Kensington Palace announced that the Prince of Wales will hold an investiture at Windsor Castle on Wednesday local time, The Sun reported.

That night, Prince William will attend the London Air Ambulance fundraising gala in London’s Raffles Hotel.

Prince William is ready to return to surgery after Princess Catherine’s recent surgery. Picture: AFP
Prince William is ready to return to surgery after Princess Catherine’s recent surgery. Picture: AFP

The Prince is a former air ambulance pilot and became the charity’s patron in March 2020.

William will also reportedly be giving an MBE to Lioness Ellen White, though a date is yet to be announced.

The Prince stepped back from his royal duties to look after the Princess of Wales as she continues to recover from major surgery at home.

Princess Catherine underwent abdominal surgery at the private London Clinic in Marylebone on January 16.

She was released 13 days later.

Both King Charles and Princess Catherine have undergone surgery in the same London hospital. Picture: AFP
Both King Charles and Princess Catherine have undergone surgery in the same London hospital. Picture: AFP

The private hospital where she had the surgery has long been a go-to hospital for the Royal Family and other British establishment figures.

Queen Camilla is the hospital’s patron, and her mother-in-law Queen Elizabeth II opened a A$155 million cancer centre there in 2010.

The hospital was formed by a group of doctors and officially opened by the Queen Mother, then the Duchess of York, in 1932.

The Palace said Princess Catherine’s operation, which was “non-cancerous”, was successful and she is on the road to recovery.

“The Princess of Wales has returned home to Windsor to continue her recovery from surgery. “She is making good progress,” a statement read.

The royal kids did not visit their mum in hospital during her two-week stay. Picture: Getty Images
The royal kids did not visit their mum in hospital during her two-week stay. Picture: Getty Images

“The Prince and Princess wish to say a huge thank you to the entire team at The London Clinic, especially the dedicated nursing staff, for the care they have provided.

“The Wales family continues to be grateful for the well wishes they have received from around the world.”

At the same private hospital, the King received a “corrective procedure” for an “enlarged prostate” and was discharged the same day as his daughter-in-law.

King Charles had his first public outing since surgery over the weekend, when he attended church at Sandringham with Queen Camilla.

Prince William visiting his wife at a London hospital. Picture: AFP
Prince William visiting his wife at a London hospital. Picture: AFP

It is understood the King will miss a month of royal engagements while he recovers.

Sources claimed at the weekend that Princess Catherine’s commitment to her royal duties will see her get back into work as soon as she can.

However, the princess will not return to work until after Easter.

She will likely miss the Baftas the annual Commonwealth Day service in Westminster Abbey, as well as the St David’s Day Parade at the start of March and the St Patrick’s Day parade.

Meanwhile, children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis had not been to see their mum to keep life “normal”, as they continued going to school.

Kate’s parents were also said to have cleared their schedule to help with the children.

A royal expert has speculated on the reason why the royal children didn’t visit their mum while she was in hospital for two weeks.

The royals pictured on Christmas Day. Picture: Samir Hussein/WireImage
The royals pictured on Christmas Day. Picture: Samir Hussein/WireImage

Instead of visiting, the kids connected with the princess via Facetime calls – but royal biographer Ingrid Seward thinks there’s a healthy reason for this.

“I don’t think she wanted to make more of a big thing of it than it already was,” Seward told People magazine.

“They’ll be rallying ‘round in their own way and helping to look after her.”

The children were all understood to have been at school throughout Princess Catherine’s time in hospital.

While it likely will have been a personal choice, children are also generally not allowed to visit the London Clinic without permission from the hospital for the safety of the patients.

Not only this, but children are also generally not encouraged to visit in the attempt to keep infections at bay.

The website stipulates: “Any special requests for children to visit must be approved by senior staff.

“If approved, children must be accompanied by a responsible adult who will look after them throughout the visit.”

Originally published as ‘No plans’: Prince William’s shock move as Prince Harry returns to UK after King’s diagnosis

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Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/royals/prince-william-reveals-royal-work-return-after-princess-catherines-surgery/news-story/5783ade5bd37b8f18884485d22c7b9d3