'He wants to COME BACK'

Prince Harry is willing to return to a temporary royal role while the King and Princess of Wales recover from cancer. But could he ever be welcome, asks royal expert Emily Andrews

- Emily Andrews

It’s a thrilling proposition. The Duke of Sussex once again using his charm, emotional intelligence and quick wit to support and represent the Royal Family.

I understand that Prince Harry told his father that he would be happy to step into a temporary royal role while both he and the Princess of Wales were absent from public life due to their cancer treatment.

Harry, who is fifth in line to the throne, remains an official Counsellor of State, although the Palace has clarified that only working members of the family would be called upon to stand in for the King.

Yet in an attempt to heal the rift in his family and in an offer of reconciliation, Harry has let it be known that he would be happy to help out.

The King has started to undertake public engagements again – he is due in Normandy this week with Queen Camilla and the Prince of Wales for the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings – although his doctors are limiting the amount he does as he is still undergoing treatment.

Kate is still absent from public life while she undergoes preventative chemotherapy, after cancer cells were detected following her abdominal surgery in January.

The princess is said to be doing well but expected to be out of the public eye for some time longer, and is unlikely to be at next week’s Trooping the Colour celebration for the King’s official birthday.

William is also still on reduced engagements while he supports his wife and three children.

The Royal Family are thus severely depleted – with Queen Camilla, Princess Anne and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh picking up much of the slack.

Triumphant tour