There Is Hope Yet: King Charles and Prince Harry's 'Strained' Relationship Can Be Fixed

Prince Harry and King Charles III's "strained" relationship could be headed toward repair as the monarch goes under the knife for prostate surgery.

"The significant disconnect between them doesn’t appear to be improving at the moment," relationship analyst Louella Alderson told an outlet. "However, times of stress and ill health can bring families closer together, and Prince Harry might find he wants to reach out to his father at a time like this."

"If Prince Harry found out about King Charles' surgery through the media, then it only adds to the likelihood that their relationship is incredibly strained," she added when referencing the report that the Duke of Sussex found out about the King through the news. "It could have been a shock for Harry to find out about his father's health issues through the news rather than a personal call or message from his family."

"However," she continued: "If they aren’t on speaking terms, it may not come as a surprise that he was left out of the loop. If true, it indicates a lack of communication and closeness within their relationship. If there are trust issues between them, then this could also be a reason why Prince Harry was not informed directly about his father's surgery. It's possible that Prince Charles deliberately chose to announce his surgery publicly to avoid any speculation or rumors surrounding his health."

The monarch will undergo a "routine procedure" next week to correct an enlarged prostate, which coincides with the "more concerning" medical condition of Kate, Princess of Wales. The future queen had a "serious" operation on Tuesday, January 16, of an unknown ailment, which requires an unusually long two-week stay in hospital and a nearly three-month recuperation at home.

King Charles was likely thinking strategically when he made his surgery announcement, since it was widely reported that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex leaked details of their phone call with him on his 75th birthday last year.

"This could have been a way for him to protect his privacy and control the narrative. If he feels he cannot trust Prince Harry with his personal information, it also suggests a lack of trust in their father-son relationship," Alderson concluded.

Although reports have been shared within the past week admonishing Harry and Meghan Markle for not publicly commenting on the royal health scares, the Montecito duo apparently wanted to keep their well-wishes private.

"The King and the Princess of Wales have received support from Prince Harry and Meghan regarding their health. The Duke and Duchess contacted both parties in different ways to pass on their concern and best wishes," a Sussex source told a publication.

Daily Mirror Interviewed Alderson.