Prince Harry has joked about “challenging” sibling relationships during his visit to the UK, a nod to his fractured relationship with brother Prince William.
The former royal has returned to the UK to attend the WellChild Awards, which celebrate the inspirational qualities of the UK's seriously ill children, as well as other public engagements.
However, sources say Prince Harry’s first trip to the UK in five months has deeper implications. Speaking exclusively to The Standard, friends of the Duke have said Harry is “seriously homesick.”
“He’s started reaching out to us more and more. It started with very long and earnest WhatsApps. We actually all made a decision when we started getting them not to take the piss out of them.
“[...] Gradually he seems to be sounding more normal. Whenever anyone goes to America they try to see him. It never seems to be with Meghan though. We think he is beginning to pine for home”.
And it appears Harry can’t help but reference his own family situation. Speaking to WellChild award winner Declan Bitmead, 17, yesterday, the Prince joked about “challenging” sibling relations.
Asking about Declan’s brother, Harry said: “Does he drive you mad?” to which the young award winner replied: “No, we get on fine.”
A smile lighting up his face, Harry joked: “You know what — siblings [...] You're at the same school, that sometimes makes it more challenging.”
Prince Harry is not expected to reunite with Prince William during his current trip to the UK, despite both brothers paying respects to the late Queen Elizabeth on the third anniversary of her death just seven miles apart on Monday.
The Duke of Sussex’s visit comes amid rumours that he will visit his father during his time in the UK, with the pair having last met face-to-face a year-and-a-half ago.
There has been speculation over the state of King Charles III’s health following his cancer diagnosis in February 2024. By the end of last year, Buckingham Palace shared that the 76-year-old monarch was dealing with a “managed condition” and that his “treatment cycle will continue into next year.”
The most recent updates on Charles’ health come from interaction with the public, with one royal fan who met Charles in July telling reporters: “He said he was feeling a lot better now and that it was ‘just one of those things.’”
Meanwhile, Catherine, Princess of Wales, has also been on a significant cancer journey during the time that Prince Harry has been away. Kate Middleton completed her cancer treatment last September. However, she has alluded to the struggle since finishing chemo.
“You put on a sort of brave face, stoicism through treatment,” Kate explained during a visit to Colchester Hospital in Essex in July 2025. “Treatment's done, then it's like, ‘I can crack on, get back to normal,’ but actually, the phase afterwards is really, really difficult.”
As for the rest of Harry’s visit, the Duke is expected to visit a community recording studio in Nottingham on Tuesday, while Prince William is set to visit a youth organisation in London, keeping a healthy 100+ miles between the two brothers. Challenging indeed.
