Prince Harry has returned to the UK for the first time in five months amid growing speculation over whether he will reunite with his father, King Charles, during his stay.
The Duke of Sussex is set to support BBC’s Children in Need and visit a recording studio in Nottingham, as part of a series of public engagements across the country.
His four-day visit marks his longest stay in the UK since 2022, when he and Meghan travelled to Britain following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Travelling solo, Prince Harry left his wife Meghan and their two children, Archie and Lilibet, at home in California.
Upon arriving at Heathrow Airport this morning, the Duke paid a private visit to his late grandmother’s resting place at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle. He laid wreaths and flowers while paying his respects privately.
The trip coincides with the third anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s death.
To mark the occasion, the Royal Family released a photograph of the late monarch dressed in blue, accompanied by the caption: “Remembering Queen Elizabeth II, 1926–2022.”
Prince Harry last visited the UK in April, when he lost his legal challenge over the level of taxpayer-funded security he is entitled to while in the UK.
The Duke appealed a ruling dismissing his challenge to the level of police protection. He claimed that he had been “singled out” for “inferior treatment” and that his safety and life were “at stake” after security arrangements changed when he stepped down as a working royal and left the UK with his wife Meghan.
But Sir Geoffrey Vos ruled that “the duke’s sense of grievance” did not translate into a “legal argument for a challenge” against the original decision.
On Monday evening Harry will attend the WellChild awards ceremony in London in his role as the charity's patron, a position he has held for more than 15 years.
There has been speculation about whether the duke will see his father the King, who is receiving ongoing cancer treatment and was in Scotland at the weekend.
The visit follows recent images obtained by the Mail on Sunday showing senior aides to Charles and Harry during a meeting, in what was reported to be a step towards restoring the relationship between the duke and the royal family.
The WellChild awards, which celebrate the achievements and resilience of seriously ill youngsters and their families, are being staged exactly three years since the late Queen, the UK's longest-serving monarch, died peacefully at Balmoral in Scotland on September 8 aged 96, after reigning for 70 years.
During the event, Harry will make a speech, meet and talk to seriously ill children and their families and present an award to an "inspirational child" aged between four and six.
The Duke has attended the awards 14 times before and has held the role of the charity's patron for 17 years.
The charity brands itself as the national UK children's charity "making it possible for children and young people with complex medical needs to thrive at home instead of hospital, wherever possible".
In a statement ahead of the visit, Harry said: "For 20 years these awards have highlighted the courage of young people living with complex health needs and shone a light on the devoted caregivers - family and professionals - who support them every step of the way. Their stories remind us of the power of compassion, connection and community."
