Why Prince Harry could only see King Charles for 30 minutes after being diagnosed with cancer

A royal expert has revealed the surprising reason why Charles would only see his son for such a short amount of time.

King Charles only saw Prince Harry for 30 minutes to keep his stress levels down, a royal expert has revealed.

The monarch, 75, only met with Prince Harry on Tuesday for a short amount of time after he made the mad dash from California to Clarence House, The Sun reported.

Any extended meeting would only end up delving into stressful topics which would hinder the King’s recovery, writer and broadcaster Robert Jobson said.

“You don’t want his blood pressure going up,” he said.

“The King’s not very well, whatever type of cancer it is, he’s undergoing treatment.”

He added the monarch will need calm to recover and may soon leave Sandringham to stay at quieter Wood Farm.

King Charles only saw Prince Harry for 30 minutes to keep his stress levels down, a source has said. Picture: AFP

“The best thing for him is calm,” he said.

“After the initial kiss and hug, love you dad, hope you get better soon, what issues are going to get raised? Things that will get your blood pressure rising.”

After his meeting with Harry, the King flew to Sandringham and was pictured smiling as he arrived at church on Sunday morning - part of his usual weekly routine.

But he could now move to Wood Farm, Robert claimed.

Prince Philip would often stay at Wood Farm, a farmhouse on the grounds of the estate, after retiring from royal duties in 2017.

Robert said: “I would think he will stay at Sandringham House until they shut it down and they he may go to Wood Farm.

“When the late Queen was very sick she went to Wood Farm. It’s also where Prince Philip lived after his retirement.

“It’s a very relaxing place and he can be there with just a couple of servants and just really chill out.”

In his first public statement to acknowledge the well-wishes of the nation, Charles expressed his “heartfelt thanks” for the kind messages he has received.

The monarch took a helicopter flight from Buckingham Palace to Sandringham on Tuesday after his first face-to-face meeting with his son in 16 months.

Charles, Meghan and Harry in happier times. Picture: Getty Images

Meanwhile, Harry stayed in a London hotel and arrived back at London Heathrow to return to his family by 1.30pm on Wednesday - making his visit just 26-hours long.

Charles had spent three nights at the London Clinic receiving treatment for an “enlarged prostate”.

But in an update on Monday Buckingham Palace confirmed the King was diagnosed with a form of cancer.

Wood Farm retreat

The King is expected to have further cancer treatment as an out-patient in London this month.

The Palace has yet to set a date for his return to frontline duties.

It has not been revealed exactly what type of cancer the King has, or what treatment he will receive.

Camilla rift

Elsewhere, Robert claimed the rift between Harry and Queen Camilla could be a reason the duke’s meeting with Charles was so short.

Robert explained: “The Queen was with the King.

“Let’s be honest - he wasn’t too complimentary about Queen Camilla in his book Spare.

“He wasn’t very complimentary about her on Netflix. They don’t get on.”

He added that the absence of a relationship between father and son meant any meeting would be strained.

“Second, there’s not been a lot of contact,” he said.

Charles and Camilla as they arrive to attend the Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle in 2023. Picture: AFP

“That brings its own level of complexity and drama which he doesn’t need at the moment.

“The royals do stick to a pretty military clock. You have to get the helicopter pilot there, all these things.

“So his plans had to be changed. The one thing the King doesn’t like is changing his plans.

“He gave him long enough for a kiss and hug, and wished him all the best.”

King Charles has described the public outpouring of support for him since his cancer diagnosis as “the greatest comfort and encouragement”.

In his first public statement to acknowledge the well-wishes of the nation, Charles expressed his “heartfelt thanks” for the kind messages he has received.

He said: “As all those who have been affected by cancer will know, such kind thoughts are the greatest comfort and encouragement.”

And in the message, written from Sandringham, he added it was “equally heartening” that sharing his diagnosis has “shone a light” on the great work carried out by cancer charities.

He said: “My lifelong admiration for their tireless care and dedication is all the greater as a result of my own personal experience.”The King is expected to convalesce at Windsor Castle, Highgrove and Sandringham over the coming weeks and months.

This story was published in The Sun and republished with permission

Originally published as Why Prince Harry could only see King Charles for 30 minutes after being diagnosed with cancer