Prince Harry says he has ‘other trips’ to Britain planned after telling US TV he ‘loves his family’ and hopes King Charles’ cancer diagnosis has a ‘reunifying effect’

Prince Harry has said that he has ‘other trips’ planned to the UK, after telling US television that he hopes his father’s cancer diagnosis has a ‘reunifying effect’. 

The Duke of Sussex, 39, has spent the last couple of days in Whistler, Canada, with his wife Meghan to attend the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistlers One Year To Go Winter Training Camp.

The couple were followed around by cameras and a Good Morning America television crew. 

Harry told them that he ‘loved his family’ and that he ‘jumped on a plane’ to visit the King ‘as soon as I could’ after speaking on the phone about his cancer diagnosis. 

The Prince added he will try and to ‘stop and see family as much as I can’ and said that he had other trips and plans that will take him to the UK.

The royal is expected to return to Britain in May for a service at St Paul’s Cathedral to mark the tenth anniversary of the Invictus Games.

He was in the UK last Tuesday, after it was announced that his father, King Charles, 75, had cancer. It was discovered by doctors when the monarch was being treated for an enlarged prostate, but his specific diagnosis is unknown.

The Duke, 39, flew into London on a 10-hour commercial British Airways flight from Los Angeles to Heathrow on Tuesday and arrived at the royal residence at 2.42pm.

He then spent around 45 minutes chatting with his father, which is thought to be their first proper contact in 15 months. 

Asked by GMA presenter Will Reeve how the Duke’s trip for the meeting was for him ’emotionally’, Harry replied: ‘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.’ 

During his time in Whistler, the Prince enjoyed a thrill-filled ride around a skeleton bobsled track, where he reached speeds of 61mph. 

Reeve, the son of late Superman actor Christopher Reeve who was paralysed in 1995, said: ‘I’ve also found in my own life that sort of an illness in the family can have a galvanising or a sort of reunifying effect for a family. Is that possible in this case?’ 

Speaking exclusively to Reeve from the ski resort in Whistler, Canada, Harry replied: ‘Absolutely. Yeah, I’m sure.

‘Throughout all these families I see it on a day-to-day basis, again, the strength of the family unit coming together. I think any illness, any sickness brings families together. I see it time and time again, and that makes me very happy.’ 

He also said he had ‘considered’ becoming a US citizen since moving to California – but added that his outlook on his father’s health ‘stays between me and him’. 

While Meghan did not take part in the bobsledding fun at the Whistler Sliding Center in British Columbia, she was able to enjoy every aspect of her husband’s ride when he got off the sled – before enthusiastically re-enacting his thrill ride to his wife and Invictus volunteers after getting off.

After the high-speed arrival, the couple came to a meet and greet with athletes preparing to perform at the event next year on a platform overlooking the track.

Among the athletes waiting to be introduced were Canadian veteran and mental health advocate Mark Beare, Estonian former soldier and amputee Rasmus Penno and Nigerian powerlifter and ex-soldier Peacemaker Azuegbulam.

This comes as Meghan and Harry have come under fire in recent days over their new Sussex.com website, in particular Meghan’s coat of arms – which critics claim is a breach of their promise to the late Queen Elizabeth when they acrimoniously quit front-line royal duties.

Their decision to change their children Archie and Lilibet’s surnames to Sussex has also raised eyebrows among royal watchers.

The moves have sparked a fresh round of criticism of the Duke and Duchess and renewed calls for the duo to have their titles removed. But a representative told the Mirror that the couple ‘will not be broken’. 

They added: ‘We’ve heard time and time again that certain opportunities are make or break for the couple. They’re still here. They’re still working and pursuing what they believe in, despite being constantly challenged and criticized. This couple will not be broken.’