Prince Harry is travelling to the United Kingdom for the WellChild Awards on Monday and is “really positive” and “so excited” about the visit, a source told Hello Magazine, while reports say a meeting with his father, King Charles III, remains possible though not confirmed.
The Duke of Sussex, 40, is due to arrive from the United States for a four-day schedule of engagements that will include the WellChild Awards — an event he has supported as patron for 17 years — and a visit to Nottingham. According to the charity, Harry will attend the ceremony for the 15th time, meet winners and their families at a pre-ceremony reception and present an award to an inspirational child aged four to six.
A Mail on Sunday report said a meeting between Harry and King Charles is “not off the table,” and that any arrangements would be held closely by the palace and the duke. The King and the duke have not met publicly since a 30-minute encounter in February 2024, which followed the monarch’s announcement that he was receiving treatment for cancer. The King is currently at Balmoral in Scotland, and royal aides have indicated he will be in London mid-week for further treatment, according to media reports.
Harry is travelling without his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, who will remain at the family home in Montecito, California. The visit will be the duke’s longest stay in the UK since he returned for his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in 2022; he last travelled to Britain in April for a High Court hearing concerning his security arrangements.
The duke lost a Court of Appeal challenge in May over taxpayer-funded security while in the UK, a legal defeat that prompted him to say in a BBC interview that he could not “see a world” in which he would bring his wife and children back to Britain at present. Despite that ruling, sources quoted by the Daily Mail said Harry is in a “good headspace” and intends to focus on his patronages and charity work during the visit.
WellChild, the national charity for seriously ill children, said in a statement that Harry had expressed his privilege at attending the awards and meeting “the incredible children, families and professionals who inspire us all with their strength and spirit.” Matt James, chief executive of WellChild, said the awards — in their 20th year — recognise the resilience of children with complex medical needs and the commitment of those who care for them.
The duke’s itinerary includes a visit to the Community Recording Studio in St Ann’s, Nottingham, where Hello Magazine reported he will announce a substantial donation to Children in Need. WellChild’s awards ceremony on Monday also marks the third anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s death; Harry attended the 2022 awards remotely after travelling to Balmoral when the Queen died.
Media reports said a small number of palace officials would be aware if any private meeting were arranged between Harry and the King. A Mail on Sunday account quoted an unnamed source saying Harry would “drop everything” to meet his father if an invitation were extended and that any planning would be confined to the King’s private secretary and the principal parties.
Relations between the duke and other members of the royal family remain strained publicly. Prince William, the Prince of Wales, and Harry have been reported to have a tense relationship in recent years; there is no public confirmation that William will meet Harry during this visit.
Palace officials have not issued a formal itinerary beyond the charity engagements, and there has been no official confirmation from Clarence House or Kensington Palace about any private family meetings. The duke’s visit comes just over a week before the King is due to host a state visit from the President of the United States and the first lady.
Harry’s supporters and the charities he champions described the visit as focused on recognising families caring for children with serious and complex medical needs. WellChild said the awards provide an opportunity to celebrate the efforts of parents, siblings and professionals who support young people to thrive at home and in their communities.
As with previous visits, the duke’s presence is likely to draw attention to both his public engagements and any private interactions with the royal household. For now, organisers and aides have framed the trip around the WellChild Awards and associated patronage duties scheduled through the week.