HELPING HARRY
‘Prince Harry thinking “this could have been my moment”’, royal expert claims, while Kate Middleton recovers in hospital
Royal biographer Robert Jobson claims the royal family needs back-up
THE royal family has had a tough week, with the Princess of Wales recovering in hospital and King Charles set for a medical procedure next week.
With the Prince of Wales taking time out to care for his wife, a royal expert has claimed Prince Harry could have been “very useful” at this time.
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It has been reported that Kate Middleton will likely not be returning to engagements until the Easter period, following medical advice.
Her “planned abdominal operation” was “successful”, however, but is expected she will stay in the private London Clinic for 10-14 days before returning to her Adelaide Cottage home in Windsor.
Meanwhile King Charles, 75, is to be treated for an "enlarged prostate" and will undergo a "corrective procedure", and postpone public engagements for a short period of recuperation.
Royal biographer Robert Jobson told True Royalty TV’s The Royal Beat that Prince Harry could have “had his moment” and found his role within the monarchy at this time.
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The author said that having the King and the Prince and Princess of Wales out of action will have a significant impact on the number of official duties the slimmed down royal family can carry out.
Robert claimed: “Since we’ve lost Meghan and Harry, and Andrew is no longer taking part as a working royal, the amount of duties [William and Catherine] are expected to carry out has increased.
“The workload on the King and Queen is high as well.
“So I think … they do need that back-up.
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“And maybe Harry will be looking from the other side of the pond thinking that this would have been his moment, and he could have been very useful.”
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped down as senior working royals in 2020, and now live in California with their two kids, Prince Archie, four, and Princess Lilibet, two.
Speaking at a charity event about his decision to step back, Harry said: “Once Meghan and I were married, we were excited, we were hopeful, and we were here to serve.
“For those reasons, it brings me great sadness that it has come to this.
"The decision that I have made for my wife and I to step back, is not one I made lightly.
“It was so many months of talks after so many years of challenges.
"And I know I haven’t always gotten it right, but as far as this goes, there really was no other option.”
Harry, whose own memoir is called Spare - likely in reference to "the heir and the spare" saying - is said to have been prompted to leave the royal family following an official photo being released.
The seemingly happy photograph was taken at Buckingham Place in 2020 and shows the late Queen, Prince William and King Charles resting a loving hand on Price George's shoulder.
According to royal author Andrew Morton the image, released just days before Harry and Meghan made their life changing announcement, was the breaking point.
In his book Meghan: A Hollywood Princess, Morton wrote: "The royal couple suspected that the entire institution was conspiring against them. As they saw it, the evidence was all around them.
"The unspoken code was straightforward: the future of the monarchy was assured, with or without Meghan and Harry."
While there were a number of issues that ultimately led to the couple removing themselves from the Institution, Moreton believes this was a "wake up call".
A royal commentator has claimed that with his father and sister-in-law having medical procedures, this could be the perfect chance to heal their “rift.”
Richard Fitzwilliams told The Sun: "There is a very deep rift in the royal family. As far as anyone is aware, Harry and William aren't speaking.
"It's very unfortunate this has happened. Not only the King with an enlarged prostate but Catherine has also had an operation of some magnitude.
"Given the sensitivities involved, it is hoped some approach would be made by Harry but the best thing, and the only thing, would be a quiet or private approach. So basically we don't hear."
The ongoing rift between the Duke of Sussex and the Royal Family has only deepened, with Harry's Netflix documentary and Spare release.
William and Harry last saw each other at the Queen's funeral and the pair have since refused to meet up.
Last month, relations between Charles and Harry were said to be fractured beyond repair amid the fallout of the royal race row.
Hopes of a reconciliation had been raised after Harry called Charles to wish him a happy 75th birthday in November 2023.
He also sent a video of the King's US-based grandkids Archie, now four, and Lilibet, two.
But the family rift, years in the making now, appears not to be easing with time.
It comes after the Prince of Wales has visited his wife in hospital.
Heir to throne William was seen leaving the private London Clinic at around 12.35pm on Thursday.
The princess was admitted on Tuesday for the successful, planned procedure but is expected to stay in hospital for 10 to 14 days before returning to her Adelaide Cottage home in Windsor.
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The nature of the princess's condition has not been revealed although Kensington Palace confirmed it was not cancerous.
It is serious enough, however, for heir to the throne William to be postponing official duties while his wife is in hospital and in the immediate aftermath while she recuperates, devoting his time to his family.
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