King Charles cancer diagnosis: Meghan Markles stays in US as Prince Harry visits King at Clarence House
He once had a soft spot for his “sassy” daughter-in-law. But Meghan Markle was nowhere to be seen as Prince Harry reunited with his father.
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He famously walked her down the aisle when her own father cancelled at the last minute.
In the early days of her relationship with Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and King Charles quickly formed a close friendship.
The then Prince Charles held a soft spot for the “sassy” and “confident” American who had won his youngest son’s heart, according to royal insiders.
When her father Thomas Markle was unable to attend her wedding, allegedly due to health reasons, Charles quickly stepped in to walk the former TV actress down the aisle in May 2018.
It was a touching moment beamed around the world and underscored their personal bond.
But fast forward to February 2023 and it’s a very different picture — Meghan is staying away from the UK and will not travel to London after the King’s shock cancer diagnosis.
Prince Harry is in the UK on his own, leaving Meghan and their two children, four-year-old son Prince Archie and two-year-old daughter Princess Lilibet, at their home in Montecito, California.
A source told The Mirror that Meghan has given her husband her “blessing” to be with his father after his cancer diagnosis.
“Harry is making plans to spend more time in England so he can be there physically for his father,” the source said.
“Meghan has given him her blessing to do this as she knows family is paramount.”
It is still not clear if Meghan will also travel to the UK eventually but at this stage it appears she will be staying away due to the bad blood between the Sussexes and the royals.
Meghan and Harry ruptured their ties with the royal family after their bombshell Netflix series and allegations of racism aired in their infamous 2021 Oprah Winfrey interview.
After the Oprah interview, Meghan allegedly sent a letter to the then Prince Charles expressing her concerns over “unconscious bias” within the royal family.
The letter came after Meghan’s allegations that there were “concerns and conversations about how dark (Archie’s) skin might be when he’s born”, The Telegraph reported.
Meghan’s correspondence was allegedly sent in response to a letter she received from King Charles in which he expressed his sadness over tension within the family.
It appears that this was the beginning of the end for the bond between Charles and Meghan.
In his memoir Spare, Prince Harry claimed that his father made it clear that Meghan was not welcome at Balmoral Castle when the late Queen Elizabeth II was dying in September 2022.
Meghan and Prince Harry were in the UK by chance at the time of the Queen’s passing and later had an awkward appearance with Prince William and Princess Catherine as they greeted wellwishers outside Windsor Castle.
Sources close to Prince Harry have told The Sun that he would meet Prince William during his London visit “if the opportunity were to arise”.
Prince William, however, allegedly has “no plans” to reconcile with his brother.
MEGHAN MARKLE’S DAD REACTS
Meghan Markle’s estranged father has sent well wishers to King Charles after Buckingham Palace announced the 75-year-old monarch has been diagnosed with cancer.
Thomas Markle, who is recovering from a stroke he suffered in 2002, sent “all the good wishes in the world”.
“I want to send my best wishes to King Charles and hope he gets well very soon. I wish him all the good wishes in the world,” Mr Markle told The Daily Mail.
Earlier on his way to church in Canberra, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese wished King Charles a “speedy recovery”.
“Today the thoughts of all Australians are with King Charles and his family,” Mr Albanese said.
“We wish him very much a speedy recovery. I will be sending a message to the Palace this morning and we hope that King Charles has a speedy recovery and a return to his duties as soon as possible.”
A spokesperson for the Australian Monarchist League also issued a statement.
“His devotion to his duties are to be commended and admired. At this time the prayers, thoughts and best wishes of all Australians of goodwill will be with the King of Australia and his family as they face this health challenge together,” the spokesperson said.
News of King Charles’ cancer diagnosis has sent shockwaves around the world, with current and former leaders quick to send their sympathies.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak wished the King a “speedy recovery” after the shock news.
“Wishing His Majesty a full and speedy recovery,” Mr Sunak wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
“I have no doubt he’ll be back to full strength in no time and I know the whole country will be wishing him well.”
US President Joe Biden told reporters at the Vdara Hotel in Las Vegas that he would call the King “soon.”
“I’m concerned about him. Just heard about his diagnosis,” he said.
Mr Biden said he hoped to speak soon with the King “God willing”.
He later tweeted: “Navigating a cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship takes hope and absolute courage. Jill and I join the people of the United Kingdom in praying that His Majesty experiences a swift and full recovery.”
Former President Donald Trump wished the King a speedy recovery, describing him as a “wonderful man”.
“He is a wonderful man, who I got to know well during my presidency, and we all pray that he has a fast and full recovery!” Trump wrote on social media.
Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also expressed his well wishes, sharing Canadians are “thinking of His Majesty King Charles III as he undergoes treatment for cancer”.
Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill, who became the first republican in the role two days ago, said she was “very sorry” to learn of the King’s cancer diagnosis.
“I am very sorry to hear of King Charles’ illness and I want to wish him well for his treatment and a full and speedy recovery,” she said.
In Wales, First Minister Mark Drakeford said he was “saddened to hear the news that HM King Charles III is facing further health challenges”.
“My thoughts and those of people across Wales will be with him and his family this evening,” he said. “I send my very best wishes as he starts treatment for a full and swift recovery. Gwellhad buan (Get well soon).”
In Scotland, First Minister Humza Yousaf said: “My thoughts and prayers are with His Majesty The King and I hope for a speedy recovery and return to public life. My thoughts are also with Her Majesty the Queen and other members of the royal family at what I know will be a worrying time.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrote on social media: “Sara and I send our heartfelt well wishes to King Charles III and our prayers for his good health”.
Long known for his love of the arts, messages of support for the King are flowing in from the entertainment world.
British singer-songwriter Gary Barlow, who performed at the King’s coronation concert last May and is a friend of the monarch, told Seven’s Sunrise he was sending his love to the royal family.
“As a Brit, we love our royal family, we really do. It’s very, very sad,” Barlow, who will tour Australia later in the year with his reformed 90s boy band Take That, told Sunrise.
“I’m hoping that it is good news but even as a dad and a husband and a grandad, we are sending our best wishes for sure.
“I’ve been lucky enough to be around the royal family enough to know how hard and how seriously they take their position. All the love and hope to their family.”
British presenter Piers Morgan shared a picture of King Charles and Camilla at the King’s first public outing since his prostate treatment, writing: “Long live the King!”
Long live the King! 🙠pic.twitter.com/ZP6qgQTq1o
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) February 5, 2024
Former prime ministers Boris Johnson and Liz Truss also sent their best wishes to the King.
Mr Johnson wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “The whole country will be rooting for the King today. Best wishes to Charles III for a full and speedy recovery.”
Ms Truss said: “Sending every best wish to His Majesty The King and the royal family as he undergoes his treatment for cancer. He will be in our thoughts and prayers.
“God Save the King!”
From a health perspective, the head of the National Health Service in England said news of the monarch’s diagnosis could help raise public awareness around cancer.
“Finding out you have cancer can be very daunting — we hope King Charles’ treatment goes well,” NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard said.
“As ever, if you have any symptoms or signs of cancer, please do come forward for checks.”
Originally published as King Charles cancer diagnosis: Meghan Markles stays in US as Prince Harry visits King at Clarence House
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