It's the return of the prodigal son

Accusations, recriminations and no doubt regrets on both sides, Prince Harry’s relationship with his family is at a nadir but the King’s illness might change everything, says Melanie McDonagh

SO, the prodigal returns. In short order, after the King told his younger son directly about his cancer diagnosis, Harry was on his way back to England. It is fitting. If there is one thing that cancer does, it is to concentrate everyone's mind. And this useful reminder of the King's vulnerability has had the result of bringing the prodigal son back home - and, if the parable is apt, his father will meet him halfway.

Serious illness puts things into perspective. And the human response to a cancer diagnosis is to look at the wretched squabbles about security, about money, about respect and precedence (remember the fuss about Harry's epaulettes before the Queen's funeral... no?) and to see them for the insignificant things they are. The Duke is reminded of his father's vulnerability and he's done the good and decent thing by coming home.

Harry has put on the record that after a fraught meeting between the King and his sons in the wake of the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral that his father pleaded with the brothers: "Please boys, don't make my final years a misery." You could say this gesture is a response.

Having said which, it is frankly grounds for relief that Harry comes without his lovely wife. Bluntly, there are probably few elements of the rift between the King and his son that are not aggravated by his wife Meghan. She is the discordant element in the family whose presence would make a rapprochement less likely. She has done her bit for the success of the meeting by staying put in California. Well done her. If she could contrive to stay put, it would do more to re-establish harmony between Harry and his father and brother than almost anything else.