Prince Harry arrived back at Heathrow airport on Wednesday for an expected flight back to the United States, some 24 hours after arriving in Britain to visit his cancer stricken-father King Charles III.

Harry, dressed casually in jeans, a T-shirt and jacket, was pictured by The Sun daily arriving at the VIP Windsor Suite at Heathrow's Terminal 5.

The Daily Mail reported that he arrived at the airport just before 2pm (1400 GMT).

Reports earlier said he had stayed overnight in a luxury hotel rather than at one of the royal residences after his 45-minute meeting with Charles on Tuesday.

Harry, who has become estranged from Charles and other members of the royal family in recent years, jetted in to the UK a day after the palace announced that the monarch had been diagnosed with cancer.

His dash to his father's side had raised hopes of a reconciliation with his brother, heir to the throne Prince William, although reports said there had been no plans to meet during the whistlestop visit.

The brothers have reportedly not spoken in months because of bad feeling caused by Harry's high profile public criticism of his family.