Prince Harry,
Prince Harry recently pledged his willingness to take on some royal duties amid King Charles’ illness. But after Harry lost a lawsuit seeking enhanced UK security, experts believe that the offer now rings hollow given the barriers to returning.
Temporary Help Offer in Question
When news emerged that Charles faces cancer treatment, Harry reportedly offered to temporarily assist with engagements to ease his father’s workload. But commentator Richard Kay argues that Harry’s supportive gesture seems increasingly dubious following his failed bid to regain fuller police protection.
The High Court firmly rejected Harry’s claim that stripping his tax-funded security after stepping back as a working royal constituted unfair treatment. So without guaranteed safety assurances for his family in Britain, Harry appears unable to make good on hints of helping King Charles in person.
“Those claims last week that he had offered to ‘help out’ by picking up some royal duties while his father is being treated for cancer look increasingly hollow,” Kay wrote. With no legal path to restoring guarded protections, Harry can’t risk returning, causing his vow to aid Charles to ring empty.
Is Charles Facing a Staffing Crisis?
Kay questions whether losing Harry’s in-person support further strains a royal family he believes isn’t robust enough to properly support the elderly King. While the Palace downplays talk of a staffing crisis, unease reportedly permeates behind the scenes without Harry’s presence guaranteed.
Ultimately, Prince Harry offering warm words about stepping up during his father’s illness seems a hollow platitude if the reality of insufficient safety arrangements keeps him residing abroad indefinitely. His generous spirit may be willing, but the legal liability hinders Harry from following through in service to the Crown.