Prince Harry is due in London on Monday for the WellChild Awards and says he is "really positive" and "so excited" about the visit, amid reports a private meeting with King Charles remains a possibility.
The Duke of Sussex, 40, will make a four-day trip to the United Kingdom focused on his patronages, including the WellChild Awards on Sept. 8, and is scheduled to travel later to Nottingham. A source quoted by Hello Magazine said Harry was in a "really good headspace" and looking forward to seeing people involved in the charities he supports.
Reports in British media late Sunday said a meeting with the King is "not off the table." The Mail on Sunday reported that if an invitation were extended, Harry would be prepared to alter his schedule to see his father. Downing that possibility are only a small number of aides, the reports said, and any arrangement would be kept private. King Charles is currently at Balmoral in Scotland and is due to be in London mid-week as part of his ongoing cancer treatment.
The two have not met publicly since a 30-minute encounter in February 2024 after the King disclosed his diagnosis. If a meeting takes place this week, it would be their first in more than a year and a half, and would come while both are in the capital.
Harry will attend the WellChild Awards, a charity event he has supported for 17 years, to celebrate seriously ill children and the families and professionals who care for them. The ceremony falls on the third anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's death. WellChild said the duke will meet winners and families at a pre-ceremony reception and present an award to a young child.
In a statement issued by WellChild, the duke said he was "privileged to attend the WellChild Awards and meet the incredible children, families and professionals who inspire us all with their strength and spirit." WellChild chief executive Matt James said the awards recognise the resilience of children with complex medical needs and the commitment of their carers.
Harry is not expected to be accompanied by his wife, Meghan Markle, or their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, who will remain in Montecito, California. Meghan has not returned to the United Kingdom since September 2022. The duke moved to the United States with his family in 2020 after stepping back from senior royal duties.
The visit will be the longest Harry has spent in Britain since attending the Queen's funeral in 2022. He last travelled to the UK in April for a High Court hearing concerning his security arrangements and earlier this year lost an appeal over taxpayer-funded security while on British soil. Shortly after that decision, Harry told the BBC he could not foresee bringing his wife and children back to the UK at that point.
Media reports have indicated a private meeting with the King remains a matter of possibility rather than confirmation. If it were to occur, the reports said it would be arranged discreetly by close royal aides. The King and the duke have held limited private contact since Harry and Meghan left royal duties in 2020.
Ahead of the WellChild Awards, Harry is also scheduled to visit Nottingham, where he will spend time at the Community Recording Studio in St Ann's and is reported to announce a donation to Children in Need. The WellChild Awards marking the event's 20th year typically draw charity supporters, healthcare professionals and public figures; last year's ceremony included a range of entertainers and hosts.
The visit comes ahead of a state visit to Britain later this month, when the King is due to host U.S. President Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, on Sept. 17.
Representatives for the duke and the palace did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the timing or the prospect of any private meeting. Media reports suggest any discussions about a meeting would be managed by the king's private secretary and kept confidential if they proceed.
Harry's return underscores his ongoing engagement with British charities and patronages despite living in the United States. The duke has said previously that he misses the U.K., and friends quoted in press reports say he hopes to bring his children to the country in the future to show them where he grew up. The timing and nature of any family return have not been confirmed.