Prince Harry gives rare update on King Charles’ health, says dad ‘doing great’ after family reunion | Today’s news
Prince Harry shared positive information about the health of his father, King Charles III, during a surprise appearance at the TIME100 Sports Gala in New York on Thursday, according to a Page Six report.
The Duke of Sussex was heard telling guests that the British monarch, who has been undergoing treatment for an unknown form of cancer since 2024, is “doing great”.
Harry also spoke about his family, saying his wife Meghan Markle and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, were happy to be back home in California after a recent visit to the UK.
“Children grow like weeds”
According to Page Six, Harry told guests that the family had settled back into life in California after a short trip to the UK.
“Kids grow like weeds,” Harry said as he spoke to one of the attendees.
The Duke has two children with Meghan Markle – Prince Archie (7) and Princess Lilibet (5).
The comments come after the royal reunion
Harry’s remarks came just days after a rare reunion with members of the royal family in Britain.
The Duke initially traveled to the UK alone after being denied taxpayer-funded security.
Buckingham Palace later announced that King Charles III. and Queen Camilla hosted Harry, Meghan Markle and their children at Highgrove House.
The gathering marked the first time since 2022 that King Charles had seen his grandchildren.
Meghan and the children did not make any public appearances during the visit.
Despite the family reunion, Harry reportedly remained estranged from his older brother, Prince William.
Harry ponders the power of sport
At the gala, Prince Harry gave a speech highlighting the importance of sport and the work of the Invictus Games, an international sporting event for wounded and injured military veterans, which he founded in 2014.
“It’s a real honor to be here tonight to celebrate the power of sport,” said Harry.
“I don’t just mean big wins and historic moments. I mean tough losses, sacrifices, moments that no one ever sees.”
He told the audience that sports teach teamwork, resilience and perseverance.
“Sport shaped who you became. Sport instilled basic core values in me from a very young age. But it didn’t shape my identity as a young man, the British Army did.”
“Sport is medicine”
Reflecting on his own military career, Harry admitted that he struggled after leaving the armed forces.
He said he felt “lost” after hanging up his military uniform, but recovered through sports.
“Sport is not just fun and competition, sport is medicine,” he said.
Launched in 2014, the Invictus Games have become one of Harry’s signature charitable initiatives, bringing together wounded veterans from around the world through competitive sports.
Read also | King Charles reunites with Archie, Lilibet like him, Queen Harry-Meghan host
Harry reacts to England’s exit from the World Cup
Before taking to the stage, Harry spoke briefly to Page Six on the red carpet and expressed his disappointment at England’s defeat to Argentina in the FIFA World Cup semi-final.
Asked if he was upset by the result, Harry said, “Of course.”
Star gala
The TIME100 Sports Gala brought together several prominent figures from the sports world, including NBA star LeBron James, NFL quarterback Russell Wilson, Olympic figure skater Alysa Liu, Alpine skiing champion Lindsey Vonn and Dancing with the Stars pro Witney Carson.
Harry stepped down from a senior royal job in 2020 before moving to Montecito, California with Meghan Markle and their children. While his recent visit to the UK marked a rare family reunion, his relationship with Prince William remains strained.
Read also | Prince Harry’s royal gathering had one ‘non-negotiable’ presence — Queen Camilla
