But, according to Mr Jobson, what may have been intended as a well-meaning gesture may not have had the desired effect of patching things up between father and son.

He said: “Put bluntly, the King was unhappy about what amounted to a fait accompli served up by an emotional but well-meaning son.

“Charles just needs peace and quiet right now and had planned to fly off to the tranquillity of Norfolk with his wife, the Queen, much earlier on Tuesday.

“Yet thanks to Harry’s intervention, their Majesties were left kicking their heels at Clarence House, their main London home, while they waited for the errant younger son to appear.”

He also pointed out that Harry was forced to stay at a hotel due to a lack of invite to stay at any other royal residence, and his last-minute visit meant that plans for the King had already been made.

Harry was one of a handful of close family members who was informed by the King personally about his cancer diagnosis, before the statement from Buckingham Palace was released on Monday morning.

While the King may be open to a reconciliation with his youngest son, Prince William may be harder to win over following Harry’s portrayal of him and Princess Kate in Spare.

A source close to the Duke of Sussex has said that he would have been open to meeting with William “if the opportunity were to arise”, however they did not see each other while he was in the UK.

The Prince of Wales returned to royal duties on Wednesday after taking time off to care for his family while Kate recuperates after undergoing abdominal surgery.