Following a recent hospital stay, concerns have mounted over the health of King Charles. Now, a source tells heat his daughter-in-law Kate is more determined than ever to reunite the shattered royal family.
Two weeks ago, the unplanned hospital stay – thought to be due to ‘temporary side effects’ from his cancer treatment – saw the King, 76, step back from a scheduled trip to Birmingham. It came amid reports that the monarch has also cancelled several upcoming overseas trips. And although he’s now back on his feet – seen smiling at last week’s investiture ceremony – we’re told the health scare has spurred on Kate’s desperation to heal Prince William’s rift with his younger brother before it’s too late. Our source reveals, ‘Obviously, Charles’ declining health makes the brothers’ estrangement all the more tragic. It wasn’t that long ago that Harry rushed to his father’s side when he was first unwell, but the fear now is that the estrangement is too far along to fix and Harry no longer feels welcome.’
For Kate – who had chemotherapy for her own cancer treatment last year – King Charles’ recent hospital scare is a reminder life is short. With Prince Harry, 40, drifting further from his family, it’s now her final push to get him back in the fold. ‘It’s Kate’s view that father and son deserve to be reunited, and she knows first-hand how deeply they care for each other, despite all the issues,’ we’re told. ‘Now, more than ever, the King needs comfort and support from both his children.’
However, it’s proving tough to get ‘unmovable’ Prince William, 42, on side. ‘Kate has done everything she can, but nothing has worked,’ reveals our source. ‘Between all the gentle hints and the numerous phone calls to Harry, it’s been an ongoing process that’s taken so much time, and exhausted a lot of her patience and energy. William’s just so stubborn and won’t entertain the idea of face-to-face talks with Harry. His stance is that his brother is a disgrace, and he’s written him off for the foreseeable future – if not forever.’
However, Harry also hasn’t been eager to rush home. Now living in California with wife Meghan, 43, and their two children, trips back are a rare occurrence. While his most recent stopover to the UK was for the WellChild Awards in September, he reportedly last saw his father during a fleeting half-hour visit last February. It’s also been reported that Harry only learnt of his father’s recent hospital dash on the news – further evidence of their growing distance.
And while Meghan appears to be going from strength to strength with the success of her brand As Ever, it’s a different story for the Duke. Allegations recently emerged Harry sent an ‘unpleasant message’ to the chair of his Sentebale charity – founded in memory of his mother, helping children and orphans with HIV/AIDS in Southern Africa – after she refused to publicly defend his wife. Prince Harry stepped down from the charity at the end of March, describing the scandal as ‘blatant lies.’
Seeing Harry’s personal dramas causes no joy for his sister-in-law. Another source tells us, ‘Apparently, Kate is devastated. She doesn’t want Harry to be discredited. She thinks he must be incredibly lonely and putting on a brave face. She feels more than ever that she needs to convince William to forgive him.’
But it’s not only William who’s causing hurdles in Kate’s peace treaty. Our source says, ‘Charles and Camilla both believe that Harry’s presence, and the frenzied reaction it seems to bring, is the last thing the family need when they are trying to stay focused.’
However, it seems Kate won’t go down without a fight. ‘She tried to remind William that this is the last thing Diana would have wanted, and Harry’s the same somewhat misunderstood soul he always was,' we’re told.
‘She tries to share details of their conversations and frequently reminds him about the good times they shared. But William’s not budging – and unless he does, it’s unlikely the rest of the family will soften their hearts, either.’