Prince Harry attended his first official engagement on Thursday since returning to the United Kingdom, participating in the Invictus Spirit Awards in London. The event marked his initial public appearance in the U.K. as a non-working member of the royal family.
Harry, dressed in a tuxedo adorned with military medals, was seen posing with members of the Irish Guards. The Invictus Spirit Awards celebrate the Invictus Games, a Paralympic-style competition for wounded veterans founded by Harry over a decade ago. "It’s good to be back on British soil,” he told reporters at the event.
The Duke of Sussex and his wife, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, moved back to the U.K. last month with their two children, Archie and Lilibet, after spending six years in California. They had stepped away from their senior royal roles in 2020.
Thursday also saw other members of the royal family undertaking engagements. King Charles III delivered a speech on artificial intelligence in Scotland, while Prince William and his wife Catherine, the Princess of Wales, visited the Isle of Bute in Scotland.
Relations between Harry and some members of his family, particularly his brother Prince William, have been strained since he and Meghan stepped down from royal duties. The royal family issued a statement on September 8, stating that Harry and Meghan would remain private citizens and not undertake official royal duties while living in the U.K. Their spokesperson expressed surprise at the statement at the time.
When Harry and Meghan relinquished their senior royal roles in 2020, it was agreed they would no longer use their royal highness titles, represent the monarchy, or receive public funds. They subsequently pursued independent financial opportunities.
Looking ahead, Harry is scheduled to attend the WellChild Awards in London next week and participate in the Clinton Global Initiative annual meeting in New York from September 22-23. The exact location of the Sussexes' residence in the U.K. is not publicly known, but sources indicate the family plans an extended stay, during which Archie and Lilibet will attend school.