Prince Harry said he was feeling "really positive" and "so excited" to return to the United Kingdom on Monday for the WellChild Awards, and reports suggested a meeting with his father, King Charles III, remained possible though no appointment had been announced.
The Duke of Sussex, 40, is making a four-day visit that organisers and royal sources say will focus on his patronages. He is scheduled to attend the WellChild Awards on Sept. 8 and will travel to Nottingham on Tuesday, where he is expected to visit the Community Recording Studio in St Ann's and announce what a charity source described as a "substantial" donation to Children in Need. A Hello magazine source quoted by media outlets said Harry was "in a really good headspace" and "really looking forward to seeing everyone from his patronages face to face and focusing on the causes."
It was not known whether the duke would meet the monarch during the visit. King Charles is staying at his Balmoral residence in Scotland and is due to be in London mid-week for cancer treatment, according to reports. The Mail on Sunday said a meeting was "not off the table" and quoted a source saying that only the king, Harry and the king's private secretary, Clive Alderton, would know if plans were being made. The palace has not confirmed any private engagements.
Harry last saw his father in February 2024 when they held a 30-minute meeting after the king disclosed his cancer diagnosis. The duke has not been a frequent visitor to the UK since he and his wife, Meghan, stepped back from senior royal duties and moved to California in 2020. He was last in the country in April for a High Court hearing on his security arrangements and lost an appeal in May that challenged the withdrawal of taxpayer-funded protection while he is in the UK.
Harry will attend the WellChild Awards without his wife and children, who are expected to remain in Montecito, California. Meghan Markle has not returned to the UK since September 2022, and the duke said in a BBC interview in May that he could "not see a world" in which he would bring his wife and children back to the UK at that time. Friends and media reports have since said he retains a desire to bring his children to see where he grew up, though there is no confirmation of plans to do so.
WellChild, the national charity that supports seriously ill children and their families, announced Harry's visit and said he would celebrate the achievements of young people living with complex health needs. In a statement quoted by the charity, the duke said he was "always 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 would recognise the resilience of children and the commitment of families and professionals.
The visit will be the duke's longest in the UK since the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, according to media reports. The awards ceremony, which this year marks WellChild's 20th anniversary, typically includes a reception where the patron meets winners and their families before presenting awards.
Relations between senior members of the royal family have been strained in recent years. Harry's public comments, legal disputes over security and other developments have contributed to a prolonged period of limited contact with some working royals. The palace has not publicly detailed private discussions or proposed meetings ahead of the duke's visit.
The visit comes ahead of a state visit to be hosted by the king in mid-September and follows a July meeting reported between representatives of Harry and Meghan's communications team and a royal aide. Organisers of the WellChild Awards said the event offers an opportunity to highlight the work of carers, medical professionals and families supporting children with complex needs.
Palace officials declined to comment beyond published schedules and routine confirmations of public royal engagements. Media outlets reporting on the duke's mood and intentions cited unnamed friends and royal sources. Where the palace has issued statements, those statements have focused on the charitable engagements themselves rather than private family arrangements.