Prince Harry Won't 'Return' to U.K. Without Apology — But He's Willing to Be King Charles' Spare in a Pinch

Prince Harry is reportedly set to sporadically return to the U.K. to help King Charles III during his continuing cancer treatment. Friends of the Montecito Duke have told an outlet that the fifth in line to the throne will even work as a typical senior royal during these visits, breaking his four-year-long absence from the royal stage.

Reports cite the Duke's interview with Good Morning America back on February 16, in which the fiery-haired prince shared, "I have got many trips planned that will take me through the U.K. or back to the U.K., so I will my family as much as I can."

When asked by one of the hosts to share his outlook on His Majesty's health, the Duke of Sussex replied, "That stays between me and him."

He then majorly broke Buckingham Palace protocol, which prohibits revealing discussions about royal health, by stating, "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. 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."

But the apology Harry is allegedly "h--- bent" on getting is said to be specifically aimed at the King's future successor. Prince William was not mentioned in the February interview or the Montecito Duke and Meghan Markle's August 4 chat with CBS Sunday Morning. The Prince of Wales is believed to have made it a point to stay far away from his youngest brother during the February 6, 45-minute reunion between the King and Harry.

Despite hope that the two royal siblings — who were once very close — may reconcile during any of Harry's three brief U.K. trips so far this year, no such reunion occurred. The pair reportedly did not speak or interact at Lord Robert Fellowes' memorial service on August 29.

In fact, "They had not spoken for months owing to the Sussexes indiscretions. William doesn’t trust his brother. If you read his ill-advised memoir Spare, it is obvious why!" royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams exclusively told The Royal Observer.

"We know there has been a deep rift in the royal family," he added. "We also know that Harry’s visit, after he learned of his father’s illness, was brief and the pair spent only some 30 minutes together. This may have been because the King had just begun outpatient treatment and was very tired. It was out of the question for him to see William, who had two royal duties the next day and was helping his recuperating wife as well as his children."

Daily Mail reported on Sussex sources.