Former royal butler Grant Harrold appeared on GB News to discuss the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's confirmed return to the UK, saying Prince Harry's concerns for his father's health are likely the driving factor.
Harry's concerns for King Charles
Speaking to GB News Breakfast presenters Stephen Dixon and Ellie Costello, Harrold said: "I think the one thing I'm aware of [is] that when he saw the king...we all know the king is obviously living with cancer. It's an ongoing battle....there may have been something."
Harrold noted that Harry had previously said in an interview he did not know how long his father had, calling it "a very strange thing" and "very personal thing to discuss." He added: "You're aware that when people are fighting cancer, you're always in the positive, and thankfully a lot of people survive and get through it. But maybe he's maybe he's worried about his father, and maybe it's genuine."
Surprise at speed of decision
Harrold admitted: "I didn't see this coming...I've always said over the years, I always thought one day he would return, whether that be with Meghan or not....I think it's the speed of it. That's what I'm surprised. It was almost that there's this...rush, but...it's obviously been pre-planned. And while he was here, he was obviously that was one of the things he was doing was obviously going to visit the school that his children were going to go to."
He emphasised the bond between Harry and his father: "The thing I've always said, Harry and his father were always very, very, very close. They were really close, and there was always this bond between the two of them, and with William, and maybe genuinely its someone he misses."
Meghan's move and security questions
Harrold described Meghan's decision to return as "really interesting" and questioned whether the move would be permanent or involve splitting time between countries. He also raised the issue of security, noting: "Harry was adamant that that was a big issue, and now suddenly it's all just gone almost. So again, I don't know...if that was something that was resolved while he was here behind closed doors."
Concluding his analysis, Harrold said of Harry: "And who knows, maybe he's thinking that if his father...for whatever reason, in the next few years was not here, he might regret the fact that he didn't spend this time with him. So that that could be one of the driving factors."
