Super Bowl 2024 To Blame For Prince Harry's Very Short Visit To King Charles: Reports

Prince Harry's appearance at an NFL event ahead of the 2024 Super Bowl may have been the real reason for his quick U.K. visit earlier this week, royal fans have suggested.

On Tuesday, the Duke of Sussex arrived in London after an 11-hour flight to see his father, King Charles III, following Buckingham Palace's announcement Monday that the monarch has cancer.

But after a reported 45-minute meeting with the King, Prince Harry returned to California Wednesday -- just a day before he made a surprise appearance at the NFL Honors ceremony in Las Vegas, where Super Bowl LVIII would also be held on Sunday.

This prompted questions about the purpose and timing of Prince Harry's reportedly unplanned trip to the U.K., according to the Daily Mail.

One user suggested on X, formerly Twitter, that the duke may have rushed to his home country to avoid being seen for the first time since his father's cancer diagnosis at "glitzy Super Bowl festivities."

"If Prince Harry hadn't jetted to London for that 30 minutes with his father, then the first images of him after the King's cancer diagnosis would have been of him enjoying glitzy Super Bowl festivities," the user claimed.

Several other critics on X had similar takes, with a second user speculating: "He didn't visit the U.K. to support his father -- he has never flown there to support him like he didn't visit Queen Elizabeth. He flew there for the optics, knowing he was days away from presenting this award."

A third user agreed that Prince Harry making his first public appearance after his father's diagnosis at the Las Vegas event "would have looked shocking."

Despite the speculation, some defended Prince Harry and fired back at critics calling the royal a prince for "hire" or "rent."

"Prince Harry is not owned by anyone and can do what he wants. ... He is making an honest living, and I respect that more than your royals who are [benefit] scroungers," one user wrote.

Another person claimed, "Charles, being an appalling father, was not deserving, but Harry is an exceptional man, and yes, unlike the Royals, he's booked and busy!"

Royal expert Jennie Bond earlier told GB News that Prince Harry's immediate return was likely "a son's reaction to some pretty shocking news."

On Thursday, Prince Harry's surprise appearance at the NFL Honors ceremony left players starstruck.

The Duke of Sussex presented the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award to Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward, who was left in awe of the royal.

"Man, Prince freaking Harry. Man, I'm in shock. That's Prince Harry," Heyward said after coming up on stage to receive his award, as seen in a video shared on X.

Page Six reported that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell invited Prince Harry to appear at the ceremony.

While rumors surfaced that he might attend the 2024 Super Bowl, Prince Harry reportedly had no plans to see the big game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Sunday.

According to Page Six, Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, are busy preparing for their upcoming trip to Canada.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will head north Wednesday for the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025's One Year to Go celebrations.