Should Prince Harry return to public duty? Fierce debate breaks out on GMB as royal expert claims there’s no way back after his ‘damaging’ tirades against the institution

Good Morning Britain guests erupted into a fierce debate over Prince Harry and whether he should make a return to royal duties following his father’s cancer diagnosis.

Hosts Richard Madeley and Susanna Reid were joined by royal commentator Emily Andrews and social commentator Imarn Ayton to discuss the subject on today’s show.

It was confirmed on Monday that King Charles III has been diagnosed with a form of cancer and is currently undergoing ‘regular’ outpatient treatment.

The Duke of Sussex, 39, rushed from LA to be by his father’s side, leading GMB guests to question whether now is an appropriate time for Harry to return to royal duties.

However, there was a lack of consensus on the show, and while Imarn supposed that Charles’ ill health should encourage Harry to step up as a son and get back to work, Emily refuted the idea.

Should Prince Harry make a return to royal duties? Journalist Emily Andrews (pictured) said ‘absolutely not’ because of the damage he has caused to the institution 

When asked whether Harry should make a return to royal duties, royal journalist Emily said: ‘He should not return to royal duties predominantly because he has said himself, he does not want to do this.

‘If we go back four years ago to the Sandringham summit, Harry and Meghan wanted a half in half out situation.

‘They wanted to represent the monarch but they also wanted to make their own money and do their own thing, and the late Queen Elizabeth, and indeed the then Prince Charles said, “No, there’s no half in half out. You’re either all in or you’re all out”.’ 

The journalist concluded: ‘Harry has been very public since then and his feelings about the institution, the hierarchy, the toxicity, he has said some very damaging things about the institution. So how, therefore, can he come back and represent the organisation that he walked away from?’ 

Imarn contested Emily’s viewpoint and said: ‘It’s about context. This was before the diagnosis of late. Let’s always put things into context.

She continued: ‘That was during a time where there was a lot of issues in the family, and that was during a time when things were quite tumultuous.

‘Now, we’re in a situation where his father has been diagnosed with something quite serious.

‘So, for me personally, it’s his opportunity to step up as a royal, to step up as a son. It’s an opportunity for him to take away some of the load from William with everything that he’s going through with Kate,’ she added.

Meanwhile, social commentator Imarn Ayton (pictured) said that it’s time for Prince Harry to step up and return to life in the royal fold 

The Duke of Sussex, 39, made a transatlantic dash to visit his father, King Charles, after the shocking news broke of his cancer diagnosis 

Imarn continued: ‘You’re ultimately inferring that you can’t criticise an institution and work for them simultaneously. Both things can be true.

‘You can criticise an institution and then support your family when its needed.’

Imarn concluded: ‘As far as I’m concerned, his father is ill and that is the only priority.’

Good Morning Britain also gave viewers the opportunity to share their thoughts via a poll.  

The show posed the following question to the public: ‘Time for Prince Harry to return to royal duties?’ 

The results showed that a hefty 78 per cent said no, while 22 per cent of voters said yes.   

Hosts Richard Madeley (left) and Susanna Reid (right) revealed poll results from the same question posed to the public, and the majority agreed that Harry should not return

Social media users took to X, formerly Twitter, to share their thoughts – and there was a lack of consensus on whether Harry should make a return

Social media users have since shared their thoughts on X, formerly Twitter.

One cancer patient, who had their family around them to help with their needs, said: ‘The King will want both his sons. Media and public need to stay out of it and understand this and think how they’d feel! Let them heal in private! Too much hatred in the world… Harry should definitely step up.’

A second added: ‘In my opinion, no. Harry has brought chaos and shame and pain to his own royal family.’

‘Just because he was born into the royal family doesn’t mean he has to be one of them, let him live his life the way he wants to live it,’ said another.

Another disagreed and said: ‘After he’s trashed the royal family at every chance he’s had, do you think we want him back? Really….’

‘Before this should happen some sort of family unity should happen first,’ said another.