Prince Harry has landed in the UK to be with the king – report
Prince Harry has landed in the UK to be with King Charles after the monarch’s cancer diagnosis, the Daily Mail reported.
He is understood to have touched down on a British Airways flight to Heathrow, with his wife, Meghan, and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, reportedly having stayed at home in California.
Key events
Here are some images of Princess Anne carrying out royal duties this morning (as referenced in the post at 11.47, she has been handing out honours at Windsor Castle).
Flowers have been delivered to the back entrance of Clarence House, King Charles’s favoured residence in London.
Two separate deliveries of boxes of flowers were brought to the back entrance on Tuesday afternoon, according to the Press Association.
Royal family biographer Robert Hardman told the BBC that “the day-to-day operation of the monarchy is not going to change”, even though the king has postponed public duties.
“It doesn’t prevent doing things, there’s no constitutional concern,” he said.
Prince Harry has landed in the UK to be with the king – report
Prince Harry has landed in the UK to be with King Charles after the monarch’s cancer diagnosis, the Daily Mail reported.
He is understood to have touched down on a British Airways flight to Heathrow, with his wife, Meghan, and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, reportedly having stayed at home in California.
Sunak comment that King Charles cancer was ‘caught early’ came after Buckingham Palace noted swift intervention of medical team
Earlier on Tuesday, Rishi Sunak said King Charles’s cancer was caught early. It was new information following the announcement from Buckingham Palace on Monday night.
Asked what information the prime minister’s had based his comment on, a Downing Street spokesperson suggested he was referring to the fact that Buckingham Palace had noted the swift intervention of his medical team.
No. 10 has said it will not get into a “running commentary” on meetings between Sunak and the king when asked if the prime minister still expects to have weekly audiences.
Sunak’s spokesperson added: “The PM’s obviously said that contact will continue but we don’t get into a running commentary on those meetings.
Rishi Sunak opened today’s cabinet meeting by paying tribute to the King, No 10 has said.
His official spokesman said:
The prime minister opened cabinet by paying tribute to the King and said all of our thoughts would be with His Majesty and we wish him a speedy recovery.
Meanwhile, in the House of Commons, chancellor Jeremy Hunt added:
Mr Speaker, could I start by adding my comments to yours yesterday about His Majesty the King and wish him and his family well, as well as saluting his courage in being so open about his condition.
Analysis: cancer diagnosis will cast doubt on his future role
Rajeev Syal
Last Monday, King Charles emerged from a private clinic alongside Queen Camilla to smile and wave to a small crowd.
The message that Buckingham Palace wished to convey was obvious – the monarch is strong and will carry on his duties, despite the health setback.
Hours earlier, his daughter-in-law Catherine, the Princess of Wales, was driven away from the same hospital after planned abdominal surgery.
For several days, the global media speculation over their health – and that of the monarchy as a whole – died down.
But Monday’s surprise announcement that Charles has been diagnosed with a form of cancer inevitably provoked another frenzy – and will once again raise questions about whether it is fair to expect a man in his mid-70s to fulfil a rota of public duties.
He started his new job a decade after most men retire. For many, it will seem as if fate has placed another challenge before a reign that has been so long in the waiting.
Summary of today’s developments
Prince Harry’s black Range Rover was pictured arriving at a private terminal at Los Angeles International Airport before he boarded a flight due to land around midday, according to the Sun.
The Prince of Wales is set to step up to carry out some duties on behalf of his father, King Charles, while the 75-year-old monarch undergoes treatment for cancer, PA Media reported. It is understood that Prince William, a future king and the senior royal in the line of succession, is likely to undertake some duties on behalf of the king in addition to his own diary of engagements.
The UK’s prime minister, Rishi Sunak, said he is thankful that King Charles’s cancer was “caught early” as he described being left shocked and saddened by the news. When asked how he received the news, Sunak told BBC Radio 5 Live this morning: “Obviously, like everyone else, shocked and sad, and just all our thoughts are with him and his family. Thankfully, this has been caught early.” Sunak said his contacts with King Charles will continue “and we’ll crack on with everything”.
Princess Anne, the king’s sister, is out and about on a number of royal engagements today, Sky News reports.
The princess royal is starting off with an investiture ceremony this morning in which she will hand out honours, before travelling to the Midlands for a royal visit, according to the outlet.
Princess Beatrice, meanwhile, was seen driving into the back entrance of Clarence House in London on Tuesday morning.
The king’s niece drove a Range Rover into the royal residence a day after Charles’s cancer diagnosis was announced.
The prime minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, has wished King Charles a “full and speedy recovery”.
It is with great sadness that I learned of the illness of His Majesty the King. I wish him a full and speedy recovery and extend my best wishes to Queen Camilla and the rest of the royal family.
— Mia Amor Mottley (@miaamormottley) February 6, 2024
In late November 2021, Barbados became a republic when it removed the late Queen Elizabeth II as head of state.
Stephen Bates, a former religious affairs and royal correspondent of the Guardian, has published an opinion piece about the bravery he says it took for the king to publicly reveal his cancer diagnosis, and discusses the intense scrutiny already forming around what is to come next. You can read it here:
Lisa Kerr, the principal of Gordonstoun school, in north-east Scotland, where the king went to school, spoke to the BBC’s Good Morning Scotland programme.
She said:
We were all very shocked to hear the news last night, particularly having seen the king doing so well out and about after his prostate treatment.
But Kerr added that she is “hugely encouraged by his wholly positive attitude to his diagnosis and his continuing commitment to service”.
Charles was the first future monarch to be sent to school rather than being educated by private tutors.