Prince Harry wants to bring his children back to the United Kingdom and show them where he grew up, a friend told the Daily Mail as the duke prepares for a rare four-day visit next week for a series of charity events.
The Duke of Sussex, 40, who moved to the United States five years ago, last travelled to Britain in April to attend a High Court hearing over proposed changes to his security arrangements. The upcoming trip will be his longest stay in the country since he returned for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, the friend said.
The friend’s comments come amid lingering questions about whether Harry will return to Britain with his wife, Meghan Markle, and their two children. Meghan has not visited the U.K. since September 2022, and their son, Prince Archie, six, and daughter, Princess Lilibet, four, have not been back since attending the late monarch’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022.
In May, Harry told the BBC that he “misses the UK” but said he could not envisage returning with his family at this time. “I can't see a world in which I would be bringing my wife and children back to the UK at this point,” he said, adding that the children would miss “everything … I miss the UK.”
The upcoming visit coincides with King Charles remaining at Balmoral in Scotland. Details of the duke’s schedule were described by the friend as focused on his charitable work; organizers have said the appearances are brief and planned to avoid public disruption.
Harry’s travel to and from Britain has frequently drawn media attention and public scrutiny since he and Meghan announced in 2020 that they would step back from senior royal duties and relocate to North America. Visits have typically centred on family occasions, legal matters or charitable engagements, and have often prompted discussions about security arrangements and the couple’s relationship with the wider royal family.
Officials and representatives for the duke have not publicly confirmed whether Meghan or the children will accompany him on any future visits. The friend’s remarks to the Daily Mail mark the latest public comment about Harry’s intentions regarding his children and the U.K., and follow months of intermittent travel by the duke for court appearances and charity commitments.
As with previous trips, security arrangements, timing and the precise itinerary are likely to be managed closely by the duke’s team and local authorities. The coming visit will give Harry an opportunity to appear at public events in Britain, re-engage with charities he has supported and, according to the friend, consider the prospect of introducing his children to the places tied to his upbringing.