Prince Harry Offers Rare Update on King Charles’ Health Amid Cancer Battle

Prince Harry opened up about how it feels to have lost one parent while the other is sick.

Prince Harry has recently opened up in deeply personal ways. From his Masterclass on Grief to his conversation with GQ’s Zach Baron, he has shared insights on nearly every aspect of his life. This includes details about his family's move back to his homeland, his relationships with King Charles and Prince William, and the lingering pain of losing his mother, Princess Diana. The interview took place during his September visit to New York City but was released during Tuesday's State Visit.

During the sit-down interview, Baron asked the Duke of Sussex about his relationship with his parents, noting, “I would think having suffered the traumatic death of a parent, that something like this could be very triggering in that respect... having a sick parent now.” This prompted Harry to offer a rare and unexpected update on King Charles’ health. The Duke responded with a warm smile, saying, "Yeah, but he's getting better." Beyond that, he also acknowledged that there is a profound difference between losing one parent and losing both.

Harry explained his thought process by adding, “I think there’s a big difference between losing one parent and losing two. The friends of mine that have lost two, they go, 'Well, now I’m an orphan,' even if you’re in your 40s or 50s. I’ve never heard someone say that to me before." It is also a well-known fact that the Monarch himself has never shied away from opening up about his ongoing health battle. His most recent admission happened at the RHS Sandringham Flower Show in July, where he got pretty vulnerable with someone in attendance. 

One well-wisher complimented Charles by noting that he looks great for someone their age, to which the King chuckled and replied, "It gets much harder, doesn't it?" He shared a similar moment with 104-year-old James Fenton on the Isle of Man, joking, “Getting older is terrible because bits keep dropping off. But thank God you’re still there!” The King also made a sobering comment during a visit to Peterhead Port in Aberdeenshire while touring local development projects, exclaiming, “Whether I shall still be alive by the time you complete it, I don't know!” Though delivered with a laugh, fans picked up on the poignant truth behind the humor.