Prince Harry ‘s first official engagements in the UK after returning home with Meghan Markle have been confirmed, with HELLO! revealing that the Duke of Sussex, 41, will attend the inaugural Invictus Spirit Awards. and the annual WellChild awards.
HELLO! is a proud media partner of the WellChild Awards which will take place in London on September, 21 2026.
The inaugural Invictus Spirit Awards “will celebrate individuals, organisations and communities who embody the resilience, service and unconquered spirit at the heart of the international Invictus Movement.” Harry will also attend the launch of the Invictus education programme INSPIRE.
“It is always a privilege to be part of the WellChild Awards and to meet the extraordinary children, young people, families and professionals whose courage and determination inspire us all,” the Duke said in a statement. “This year feels particularly special as we celebrate 20 years of the WellChild Nurse programme; two decades of supporting thousands of children and families and helping them to live more of their lives at home. These Awards are a wonderful opportunity to celebrate that impact, but above all to celebrate the incredible people at the heart of it. Their stories are a powerful reminder of what can be achieved through compassion, connection and community.”
The Sussexes touched down at Birmingham Airport on Wednesday, 26 August, with their two children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, on a private flight from California.
Though it’s known that they are living in a non-royal residence outside of London, their exact location has not been confirmed, though reports have suggested they could have moved to the Cotswolds.
The couple has kept a remarkably low profile since their return, although Meghan was reportedly spotted at Soho Farmhouse in the Cotswolds, while Harry was pictured at Tower Bridge Studios in London.
What is WellChild and how is Prince Harry involved?
Prince Harry has been the patron of WellChild, which works with seriously ill children, for 18 years.
In July, Harry visited Birmingham Children’s Hospital during his visit to the UK, and met families benefiting from the charity’s specialist support programmes.
Harry said at the time: “It is always a privilege to spend time with the children, families and professionals at the heart of WellChild’s work.”
He added: “Over the past 18 years as Patron of WellChild, I have had the privilege of seeing first-hand the extraordinary impact these nurses have had on thousands of children and families across the UK.
“I have seen the difference specialist nursing support can make, from empowering families with the confidence to care for their children at home, to helping children have the opportunity to live their best lives, surrounded by those who love them most.”
Despite moving to the US in 2020, Harry continued to champion WellChild and has returned each year for the annual WellChild awards.
© POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesSpeaking to HELLO! at the awards last September, the Prince discussed his two children, saying: “I think once you become a parent yourself, everything changes.
“It’s emotional enough not being a parent and seeing what these families go through, but then when you have your own kids or when you’re expecting your own kids, that’s when it really hits you.”
Meghan and Harry’s most recent engagements in the UK
Harry returned to the UK at the start of July to complete several engagements to mark the one-year countdown to the Invictus Games.
Together with Meghan, Archie, and Lilibet, he reunited with King Charles and Queen Camilla, after which he was feeling “buoyed, very happy, and really energised,” a source told The Times.
© Justin Goff Photos/Getty ImagesHowever, Meghan did not attend any public engagements. Her final working appearance as a royal – marking her last engagement in the UK – took place on 9 March 2020, when she and Harry attended the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey alongside senior royals, including the late Queen.
As for what’s coming, Harry is believed to have a number of charity engagements in place and will continue to work closely with his Invictus Games, which will be held in Birmingham in 2027.
© Tower Bridge StudiosThe Duke is also scheduled to take part in a skydive for Sunnybrook later this month, though no exact date has been revealed and it’s not been specified where it will take place.
He could also potentially be heading to New York from 22 to 23 September, as he’s been announced as a participant in the upcoming Clinton Global Initiative.
Read the full article here
