Could Harry return to the royal fold?  Prince is ‘willing’ to take on ‘temporary royal role’ amid King Charles’s cancer battle, source claims – but expert says ‘neither side’ want him and Meghan back in UK despite Duke’s olive branch interview

Prince Harry is reportedly ‘willing’ to take on a temporary royal role while King Charles battles cancer, but a royal expert has said that ‘neither party’ wants the couple to return to Britain.

The 39-year-old Duke of Sussex has reportedly told friends he would step into such a role while his father is unwell.

They are said to have had several ‘warm conversations’ since the King’s illness was diagnosed, it was claimed last night.

Harry, who stepped down as a working royal with his wife, the Duchess of Sussex, in 2020, is a state adviser but is not expected to take on any royal duties while he recovers.

This is what a royal source says The times that Charles, 75, is keen to reconcile and see more of his son, and believes this would benefit the monarchy.

The source told the newspaper: ‘On all practical levels it makes perfect sense for the family to come together to support the king while he is ill.

‘Much has been said on both sides in recent years, but that has never diminished the fundamental blood bond, and there are now pragmatic aspects to take into account, with the welfare of the King and Kate paramount.

‘The details of the Clarence House meeting and subsequent discussions are private, but the feeling is that this arrangement could work.’

However, royal expert Hugo Vickers told MailOnline that ‘neither party’ wants the couple to return to Britain, despite Duke’s recent olive branch interview with US television.

He said: “Personally, I don’t think there is any desire on anyone’s part for him to come home and take up royal duties again at this time.

“He cannot suddenly take on royal duties again, it is still a long way away under the current circumstances.” It is always possible to reach an agreement. Something can always be arranged, but not so quickly. So no, is the answer.’

The royal expert continued: ‘His father has never responded to the mocking comments that have been thrown his way (and) has opened the door wide for (Harry).

‘He recently came to visit him and I hope this was a boost for the king. I don’t know if that was the case, but I hope so because he clearly loves his son.”

Reportedly, a written plan would have to be drawn up by Charles and his aides before Harry could resume official duties.

It comes after Harry suggested in an interview with a US breakfast show that the king’s illness could lead to a reconciliation with his father.

Harry also said ‘I love my family’ and that he was ‘grateful’ to be able to spend time with his father when he flew back to Britain last week.

The Duke’s whirlwind visit to see Charles for about 45 minutes led to speculation that the brothers, estranged since the Duke stepped down as working royals, could be on the verge of rebuilding their relationship.

The interview, which aired on Good Morning America, suggested that a family illness could have a “reuniting effect.”

Harry was asked ‘is that possible in this case?’ to which he replied that he was sure.

The Duke and his wife Meghan are in Canada hosting a number of events with Invictus participants to mark another year to go before Harry’s Invictus Games, for injured and ill veterans and service members, are held in the country.

They are followed by a film crew led by Will Reeve, the son of late Superman star Christopher Reeve, who interviewed Harry in the winter sports city of Whistler, where the 2025 Invictus Games will take place in addition to Vancouver.

Harry gestured to Invictus competitors and added: ‘In all these families I see it happen every day, the power of the family unit coming together.

“I think any disease, any illness brings families together.”

Buckingham Palace has not provided any details about Charles’ cancer and Harry declined to reveal any information when asked about his ‘view’ on the king’s health. He replied ‘that remains between me and him’.

But he said he would visit his father in the future: ‘I have other trips planned that would take me around Britain or back to Britain, so I will pop in and see my family as much as I can. ‘

There was no meeting between the Duke and his brother, the Prince of Wales, last Tuesday after Harry spent time with Charles at Clarence House.

The rift in the royal brothers’ bond can be traced back to the early days of Harry’s relationship with wife Meghan, when his then fiancée fell out with the Princess of Wales in the run-up to their wedding.

Since stepping down as working royals in 2020 and moving to California, the Sussexes have leveled accusations and grievances against the monarchy and members of the royal family, which have also soured relations.

Speaking to Reeve, Harry said: ‘Look, I love my family.

“The fact that I was able to get on a plane and visit him and spend time with him, I’m grateful for that.”

The Duke was asked about his life in America, something he described as ‘amazing’, and whether he had considered becoming a US citizen, with the royal saying he was ‘considering it’.

Harry added: “American citizenship is a thought that crosses my mind, but certainly not something that is a high priority for me at the moment.”

When asked how he was ‘processing’ what was going on with his family in Britain, the royal replied: ‘I have my own family, as do all of us. My family and my life in California is what it is.”

Meghan and Harry are raising their two children, Prince Archie, four, and two-year-old Princess Lilibet, in the famed Montecito enclave in California.

The Duke said: ‘The children are doing great, the children are growing like all children very, very quickly. They both have an incredible sense of humor. They make us laugh and keep us grounded every day, just like most kids do.

“I’m just very grateful to be a father.”

During the interview, footage was shown of Harry attempting the skeleton bobsleigh, one of the winter sports being introduced for the first time at the Invictus Games next year.

Harry said organizing the biennial Games, or the events that are still a year away, was his ‘…annual solution, to be with this community and laugh, have fun – no matter what country they come from , the banter is the same.

“I get a lot of energy just from being around these guys.”

Buckingham Palace declined to comment.