The Duke of Sussex is said to be in good spirits and very excited about returning to the UK, according to a source who spoke with HELLO!. Harry will be back in the UK this Monday for a four-day visit that includes a special appearance at the 20th edition of the WellChild Awards in London and a stop at a charity based in Nottingham. The trip also coincides with a significant date for the Windsors, the third anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s death.
Harry, 40, has been a patron of WellChild, a charity supporting seriously ill children, since 2007. He has made the awards a priority, attending them on 14 previous occasions. It is one of the few causes that Harry has continued to support since he and his wife, Meghan Markle, stepped back from full-time royal duties in 2020. The ceremony honors the courage of seriously ill children and their families, and Prince Harry will once again deliver a speech and present the award for the Most Inspiring Child.
On Tuesday, the Duke of Sussex will announce a major donation to Children in Need at an event in Nottingham—a space dedicated to tackling youth violence and supporting young people through outreach, sports, and the creative arts. Harry’s schedule will also include a private meeting with Children in Need, the Police and Crime Commission, and community leaders, as well as informal conversations with young people he has met before.
"He's so excited to come back to the UK," a source told HELLO! magazine. “He's in a really good headspace. He's really looking forward to seeing everyone from his patronages face-to-face and focusing on the causes. He’s really positive about coming back to do all the stuff that he loves doing," the source added. British media point to a possible reunion with his father, King Charles III, although recent reports suggest that a series of demands from the Duke of Sussex could stand in the way of reconciliation on British soil.
Three key requirements for the reunion
ABC reports suggest that Harry has outlined a set of conditions for his meeting with his father to take place. These are three very specific conditions that, if confirmed, would test the King’s willingness to give in on sensitive issues and show the current level of tension between the Sussexes and the British royal family.
The Duke of Sussex last visited the UK in April to attend a court hearing regarding his appeal against the removal of his official security, which he ultimately lost. However, the last time he saw his father was in February 2024, when Prince Harry showed his readiness to reconnect by flying from the United States to see him for about thirty minutes after learning of his cancer diagnosis.
The first condition is that the security of his entire family be guaranteed during their trips to the UK and that the costs be covered by the King himself. The legal battles that Prince Harry has pursued in Britain, especially the Sussexes' court fight against the Home Office, have significantly strained his relationship with his father. In an interview with the BBC in May, Prince Harry conveyed a clear and emotional message about reconciliation. “I would love reconciliation with my family. He said, "There's no point continuing to fight any more, life is precious."
The second condition is linked to communication. Harry has long argued that the Royal Family, through its press offices, leaks information to the British tabloids. Now, the Duke of Sussex is demanding “press control,” asking that all media contacts be handled strictly by Buckingham Palace, in a coordinated way, leaving no room for leaks, rumors or biased narratives that could further damage his image.
The third condition, which is arguably the most contentious, pertains to protocol rather than security or the press. Harry is said to have requested that his wife, Meghan, be treated at events as Her Royal Highness, with all the courtesies that come with that title, including bows or formal greetings that once applied to her as the active Duchess of Sussex.
The death of the Duchess of Kent
A new factor has now come into play: the death of the Duchess of Kent, just days before Harry’s arrival. This loss has shaken the Windsors, and the King has declared a period of royal mourning. In this context, plans may change, as Buckingham Palace noted in the statement confirming the death of the 92-year-old Duchess. Harry has always wanted to be present at his family's funerals, but no date or details of her farewell have been announced yet.