King to endure 'awkward and difficult' Prince Harry meeting with senior royal present for back up

Prince Harry and King Charles are likely to take the next step in mending their relationship when the duke visits the UK next week and another senior royal will be present while they do so.

The 39-year-old prince is set to give a reading at St Paul's Cathedral on May 8 for a special celebration to honour the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games.

Royal expert Tom Quinn believes that Harry is likely to set aside time to see his father while he's in London following the monarch's cancer diagnosis earlier this year.

Speaking to the Mirror, Quinn said: "It's going to be very difficult for Harry to come to the UK and not visit his stricken father, King Charles."

He also believes the father and son duo will have a longer meeting than they did last time the Duke of Sussex visited.

Harry raced back to the UK in February after Charles' cancer diagnosis was made public.

It was the first time the estranged prince had seen his father in months but their reunion is said to have only lasted 30 minutes.

It was the first time Harry had seen his father in months, but their reunion is said to have lasted just 30 minutes.

Quinn said: "When the two meet it will almost certainly be a longer meeting than last time when father and son spent just 30 minutes together, but Camilla is likely to be there simply because she feels so protective of her husband and won’t want him to be upset at such a difficult time.

"Also, despite much that has been written, Camila is exceptionally diplomatic and good at dealing with difficult situations and difficult people.

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"If anyone can steer comfortably through a meeting with Harry, Camilla can – which is why Charles will want her there."

The royal author suggested that Charles will be keen to see his youngest son despite his poor health as he "won't want to be seen to be avoiding his son even if the meeting is awkward and difficult."

Quinn added: "Like William, Charles makes a point always to seem generous and magnanimous.

"He is aware that this contrasts well with his often-petulant son; Charles and Harry know that everyone will be watching to see if they meet and neither wants to be the one blamed for rejecting the other."

The duke, who now lives in California with his wife, Meghan Markle and their two kids, has previously opened up about her desire to reunite with his family.

During an interview with Good Morning America earlier this year, he said he felt grateful to be able to visit the King after he was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer.

He said: "Look I love my family. The fact that I was able to get on a plane and go and see him and spend any time with him I'm grateful for that."

Harry added: "My family and my life in California is as it is. I have got other trips planned. That would take me through the UK or back to the UK, so you know, I'll stop in and see my family as much as I can."

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