Prince Harry makes surprise skydiving plans 8 days after his royal UK move

Prince Harry is set to complete a skydive this month as one of his first announced engagements since returning to the UK. 

The Duke of Sussex, 41, will take to the skies alongside fellow veterans to support Sunnybrook and the True Patriot Love Foundation, which aids military communities in Canada. 

Harry, who returned to Britain last week with his wife Meghan Markle and children Archie and Lilibet, has so far kept out of the spotlight, and the family has not been pictured. 

It’s not known exactly when or where the upcoming jump will take place.

The skydive will be in honour of World War 2 veteran Ed Marshall, who was 102 when he met Harry last year. He told Harry he had completed a charity skydive on his 100th birthday two years prior, and they organised another jump together. 

Harry, who served in the British Army for 10 years including two tours of Afghanistan, will be joined by Ed’s grandson Bailey, though Ed himself won’t be taking part. 

Royals that have previously done a skydive

While Harry’s skydiving plans are not usually associated with royalty, he’s not the first with royal blood to attempt the challenge.

The Duke was previously dubbed a “natural” at skydiving after jumping with the Army’s Red Devils display team. 

© Photo: Instagram

His father, King Charles, also took part in parachute training in his youth – but apparently didn’t take to it quite so easily, as he once ended up “upside down”. 

During a visit to the Merville Barracks in 2021, he admitted: “I must say, I find it hard to believe that it has been 44 years since I became your Colonel-in-Chief and nearly 50 years since I made my first parachute drop – initially upside down with my legs in the rigging lines! – into Studland Bay, Dorset, where I was hauled out of the water by the Royal Marines.”

Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway also ticked off skydiving from her bucket list in 2023, jumping from 20,000 feet during a HAHO jump (high altitude, high opening) for her 19th birthday. 

© WPA Pool

Earlier this year, Princess Leonor, the daughter of King Felipe and Queen Letizia, also jumped out of a plane as part of her military training.

Prince Harry’s schedule since returning to the UK

The big event could be Harry’s first public engagement since returning to the UK. It will take place this month, but an exact date is yet to be confirmed. 

Harry is also expected at the annual WellChild awards this September, but again an official spot in the calendar is yet to be officially announced.

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The father-of-two was last seen in public in Washington, DC, at an event for veterans on 20 August, just hours after his return home was revealed to the world. 

Harry and Meghan are now living in a non-royal residence outside of London, while their children have been enrolled in British schools.  

As for what he’ll be doing, Harry recently described himself as a “full-time dad” on a podcast with Joe Marler. 

A source told HELLO!: “It’ll be the same as what he’s been doing in California.

“When the kids are at school, he’ll be on calls and having meetings with his patronages and organisations, but some of those can now be face-to-face.”

The friend continued: “They’ve talked about returning for a long time and there’s no one thing that’s drawn them back, but all the pieces of the puzzle have landed at the right time – school, education, career, family. All of those things have to align.”