Prince Harry will return to London next month to attend the WellChild Awards, marking a rare trip coinciding with the third anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s death.
The visit has sparked talk that the Duke of Sussex could meet his father, King Charles III, for the first time in 19 months.
A source told The Mirror: “There is a determination on both sides to make this happen.
“Nobody is pretending the wider family issues have been resolved, but this is about beginning with Charles and Harry.
"For the first time in a long time, there’s a genuine sense that reconciliation is within reach. Prince Harry’s team and the Palace have opened a line of communication, and there is every hope that father and son will see one another when the Duke returns to London in September."
Harry, 40, is expected in the UK on September 8 to celebrate the achievements of seriously ill children and their families.
It will be the 15th time Harry has attended the ceremony in his role as patron, a position he has held for 17 years.
As in previous years, Harry will meet winners and their loved ones at a private reception before presenting an award to a child aged between four and six. The annual event, now in its 20th year, honours the strength of young people living with complex health needs and the commitment of parents, carers and health professionals who support them.
In a statement, Harry said: “I am always privileged to attend the WellChild Awards and meet the incredible children, families and professionals who inspire us all with their strength and spirit. Their stories remind us of the power of compassion, connection and community.”
Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, and the couple’s children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, will remain at home in California, it is understood.
The possible father-and-son meeting comes after Harry’s chief communications officer, Meredith Maines, met the King’s press secretary Tobyn Andreae for discussions at the Royal Overseas League in London earlier in the summer.
In May, Harry spoke of his anguish over the broken-down relationship with the King, after losing his legal challenge to retain police protection while in the UK.
He said he “would love a reconciliation” with his family but added the King “won’t speak to me because of this security stuff.”
“I do not know how much longer my father has,” he said. Buckingham Palace announced in February 2024 that the King had been diagnosed with cancer and had begun treatment.
Harry and Meghan were due to attend the awards in September 2022, but the death of Queen Elizabeth II at Balmoral that day forced them to withdraw. The Duke later spoke to winners via video call and apologised for not being there in person.
In his memoir Spare, he recalled the “difficult days” following his grandmother’s passing, when he and Meghan were separated from their children for almost three weeks.
Last year’s WellChild Awards at the Royal Lancaster Hotel drew a star-studded crowd including Sir Rod Stewart, Penny Lancaster, Rylan Clark, KSI, Oti Mabuse, Beverley Knight and Pixie Lott, hosted by Gaby Roslin.
WellChild chief executive Matt James said: “Across the UK, more and more families are caring for children with serious and complex medical needs. The awards give us the opportunity to recognise and celebrate their resilience and the extraordinary people who support them every single day.”
Harry’s visit comes just over a week before the King is due to host US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania on a state visit beginning September 17.
