Prince Harry will return to the UK later this month to attend a major charity event in London.
It has been announced that the Duke of Sussex will attend the annual WellChild Awards in his role as patron of the charity.
The national charity for seriously ill children is one of the few organisations in the UK with which the prince maintained ties after he acrimoniously stepped down from royal duties and moved to the US.
He chose to remain in the role he had held for 16 years when his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, asked him to step down from his other royal patronages as he was no longer working as a family member.
Prince Harry and Meghan seen during their visit to Colombia on August 15
Last September he attended the WellChild Awards at the Hurlingham Club in London (above), having missed the previous year because the awards fell on the same day as the Queen’s death.
The official X account, formerly the royal family’s Twitter account, posted a birthday greeting for the Duke of Sussex as Harry celebrated his 40th birthday across the pond
Prince Harry also received a surprise birthday message from Prince William and Kate, just hours after the King and Queen posted the message
There was no mention that his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, would be accompanying him.
According to some reports, she has vowed never to set foot in the UK again. When she flew to the UK earlier this year when the couple visited Nigeria, she didn’t even set foot outside the airport.
On Monday, the Daily Mail reported that Harry may travel to the UK to attend the awards ceremony, after both Buckingham and Kensington Palace congratulated him on his 40th birthday via their social media channels.
As the King currently lives in Scotland but returns to London regularly for his cancer treatment, this could be an opportunity for father and son to actually meet in secret.
But just two days before Harry’s birthday, the King has an important appointment in Scotland, when he and Queen Camilla visit the Scottish Parliament to mark its 25th anniversary.
This suggests he is likely to remain north of the border as long as his son is in the country.
The last time they saw each other was in February, when it was announced that the king had cancer. The prince flew in from the US to visit him briefly.
However, when he returned in May, the King was too busy to meet him, although His Majesty did offer him alternative accommodation at one of the royal properties, contrary to what was said. Harry chose to stay in a hotel instead.
It was recently revealed by sources close to the Sussexes that the prince is keen to find a way to reconcile with his father.
The Mail reported on Saturday that he also wants to find a way to return to the UK more often. A sticking point, however, is his insistence on legal action against the Home Office over its decision to withdraw his full-time security detail when he stepped down.
Confidence has also declined since Harry’s reckoning with his memoirs and the regular leaks from his own camp about private conversations with family members, especially the king.
The Duke of Sussex has been patron of the organisation for 16 years. Pictured at the 2023 WellChild Awards
The WellChild Awards have always been a highlight of Prince Harry’s calendar when he was a working royal. They celebrate the inspiring qualities of children and young people living with serious illnesses or complex medical needs, as well as honouring the dedication of families and carers.
WellChild said in its announcement that Harry had provided “invaluable assistance” over the years in raising awareness and making financial contributions.
He has attended the WellChild Awards twelve times before and will spend time with each winner and their families at a reception prior to the ceremony.
He will also be in the audience at the ceremony, presenting the Award for Inspirational Child (4-6 years) and giving a speech.
In a statement, he said: ‘I am once again honoured to attend this year’s WellChild Awards, which celebrate the remarkable courage and achievements of children with complex medical needs. These incredible young people, along with the dedicated carers, nurses and professionals who tirelessly support them, inspire us all. It is a true privilege to recognise such extraordinary individuals.’
Matt James, CEO of WellChild, commented: ‘In the UK, an increasing number of children and young people are experiencing long-term, complex medical needs.
Confidence has also hit rock bottom after Harry’s settlement memo
‘Together with their families, they face extraordinary challenges every day. With the 2024 WellChild Awards, in partnership with GSK, we want to highlight the immense difficulties they face and celebrate their remarkable resilience and spirit.
‘This event also provides an opportunity to honour the selfless dedication of those who support them – whether they are siblings, parents and carers or professionals who have gone above and beyond to give these children the best possible chance at development.’
This came after the Prince and Princess of Wales joined the King and Queen in congratulating Prince Harry on social media, posting messages in honour of the Duke of Sussex’s 40th birthday.
The last time the royals publicly celebrated Harry’s birthday was in 2021, suggesting relations have improved in recent months.
The official X account, formerly Twitter, of the royal family posted birthday wishes for Prince Harry at around 8:30 a.m. British time. William and Kate’s official account also posted a similar greeting mid-morning.
As tensions between William and Harry continue, it was uncertain whether Prince William would make a public gesture in honor of his brother’s milestone birthday.
The surprise greeting could be seen as a kind of oil spray that could improve relations between the warring siblings.
Earlier, the King and Queen had left a simple message, marked with a birthday cake emoji: “Wishing The Duke of Sussex a very happy 40th birthday today!”