Prince Harry is set to arrive in the UK today on the eve of the first anniversary of the Queen’s death, but will not meet the royal family during his visit, according to reports.
The Duke of Sussex, who is flying to London without his wife Meghan Markle, will attend an awards ceremony organized by WellChild, a children’s charity of which Harry has been a patron for 15 years.
The duke will be in London for the Queen’s first death anniversary on Friday 8 September, but palace sources told Mail Online Harry will not be meeting any members of the royal family – including King Charles and Prince William.
Harry will join WellChild to celebrate the resilience and achievements of the country’s seriously ill children and youngsters during an event on Thursday evening.
An insider told the newspaper Charles “had no time in his diary” to meet Harry, as the relationships between the duke and the rest of the family remain strained after the publication of his bombshell memoir Spare in January this year.
In his tell-all memoir, Harry claimed William physically attacked him during an altercation that stemmed from an argument about Meghan.
He also revealed the last words he said to the Queen on her deathbed at her summer residence, Balmoral estate, last year.
He described how he whispered to her that he “hoped she was happy” and would be reunited with her husband Philip, who died in April 2021
King Charles and Queen Camilla are currently Balmoral in Scotland and are not expected to attend any public engagements this week.
Instead, they will mark the queen’s death anniversary privately, the newspaper reported.
Announcing Harry’s visit last month, WellChild shared a statement on X, formerly Twitter.
“We are delighted to announce that WellChild Patron Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, will attend the WellChild Awards, in association with GSK, on 7 September.”