Estranged British royal Prince Harry has been “hit hard” by the cancer diagnosis of Catherine, the Princess of Wales, a royal author said. The Princess of Wales, better known by her maiden name Kate Middleton, revealed in March that she has an undisclosed form of the disease.
“They (Harry and Kate) were once extremely close, and Harry was hit hard by the news of her cancer diagnosis, which he learned about just the way the rest of us did, via Kate’s shocking video,” Christopher Andersen, author of “The King,” told Fox News on Wednesday.
It doesn’t appear Prince William is willing to let his brother be anywhere near his ailing wife
He also claimed that the 39-year-old prince would love to “reconnect” with Kate but “unfortunately, it doesn’t appear [Prince] William is willing to let his brother be anywhere near his ailing wife.”
Andersen stated that there was simply “too much drama” between the brothers and their wives, as well as “lingering bitterness” on both sides.
“So, the chances of even a meeting between Harry and the rest of the royal family, much less some sort of reconciliation, seem extremely slim,” he added.
Kate Middleton stated on March 22 that she has cancer and is in the early stages of chemotherapy, requesting “time, space, and privacy” to complete her treatment.
In a video statement released following weeks of rumors and gossip on social media about her health, the 42-year-old stated that the revelation of cancer following successful stomach surgery in January was “a huge shock,” but she was “well and getting stronger every day.”
She did not reveal the exact form of the disease, but she described the months after her hospitalization as “incredibly tough” for her, Prince William, and their three small children.
“In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London, and at the time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous,” she said in the video statement.
“The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present.
“My medical team, therefore, advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment,” she added.
Harry and his wife Meghan Markle, previously known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, are no longer working royals. They relocated to California in 2020 and are now establishing their own businesses after being cut off from the royal purse.
Harry, who married former actress Meghan in 2018, once had a close relationship with William. However, their relationship has deteriorated in recent years, with the brothers not speaking in months following Harry’s outspoken criticism of his family.
Harry has previously complained about how he and his wife were handled when working as royals.
Since migrating to the United States, the couple has made only a few visits to the United Kingdom, including in September for the funeral of Harry’s grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.
Prince Harry is now in the United Kingdom for festivities commemorating the anniversary of his Invictus Games. He last visited the UK in February to see his father, King Charles III, who is also receiving cancer treatment.
It was thought that he would meet his 75-year-old father during his most recent trip. However, a spokeswoman for the prince confirmed that no meeting will take place.
“In response to the many inquiries and continued speculation on whether or not the duke will meet with his father while in the UK this week, it, unfortunately, will not be possible due to His Majesty’s full program,” the spokesperson said. “The duke,, of course, is understanding of his father’s diary of commitments and various other priorities and hopes to see him soon.”