Prince Harry visited the late Queen Elizabeth II’s grave moments after touching down as he returned to Britain for the first time in five months today – amid hopes he could stage a reunion with King Charles.
The Duke of Sussex arrived at Heathrow Airport this morning and was escorted straight to St George’s Chapel, at Windsor Castle, where he lay a wreath and flowers to mark the third anniversary of his late grandmother’s death.
It meant he was just seven miles away from Prince William, whom is at an engagement for the late Queen in Sunningdale, Berkshire – as the brothers were united in grief but still worlds apart.
In an unexpected turn, the Prince of Wales was joined by his wife, Kate Middleton, whom made a last-minute decision to support him for the emotional anniversary as she continues her return to royal duties.
Harry’s trip to the UK, which includes four days of official engagements, will be his longest since he and Meghan visited in 2022 when Queen Elizabeth II died.
He has made the transatlantic trip on his own while Meghan stays in California with their children, Archie and Lilibet.
The duke was last in the UK in April when he lost his legal challenge over the level of security protection he receives from the Government while he is in Britain – after he and Meghan stepped down as working royals and moved to California in 2020.
Harry was appealing a ruling dismissing his challenge to the level of police protection he receives in the UK – but Judge Sir Geoffrey Vos ruled the duke’s ‘sense of grievance’ did not ‘translate into a legal argument’.
Significantly, however, Harry was spotted being picked up at Heathrow by a serving Metropolitan Police officer from the Royalty and Specialist Protection Squad, suggesting he is receiving bespoke police protection in the UK.
Prince Harry visited the late Queen Elizabeth II’s grave moments after touching down as he returned to Britain for the first time in five months today. He is pictured arriving at Windsor Castle
The Prince and Princess of Wales visit the National Federation of Women’s Institute (WI) in Sunningdale today. They are just 7.4 miles from Windsor Castle, where Harry paid his respects to the late Queen
Queen Elizabeth II (L) and Britain’s Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, leave St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle on May 18 2019. Harry paid his respects to her today
Buckingham Palace is remaining tight-lipped on whether the King, who is currently at his Scottish residence in Birkhall, will meet his estranged son for the first time in 19 months
Buckingham Palace is remaining tight-lipped on whether the King, who is currently at his Scottish residence in Birkhall, will meet his estranged son for the first time in 19 months.
But recently there has been signs that the fractured relationship is easing and that a reconciliation could be within reach.
The father and son last met in February 2024, when Harry flew to the UK after it was announced that Charles had been diagnosed with cancer.
Harry was earlier pictured arriving at LAX airport, while a Range Rover driven by a serving Met officer appeared to be escorting him out of Heathrow Airport this morning.
The duke was whisked away to Windsor Castle, where he paid his private respects to Queen Elizabeth II at her final resting place at St George’s Chapel.
Harry will later attend the WellChild Awards in London, a charity which supports youngsters affected by terminal and serious illness and their families.
He has been its patron for 17 years – even after stepping down as a working royal – and will present an award.
Prince William, who has taken a much firmer line on rekindling of relations with his brother, has official engagements elsewhere on every day of Harry’s visit.
The Prince of Wales is today attending a commemorative event for Queen Elizabeth II’s death anniversary in Sunningdale
He and the Princess of Wales attended the event which is just 7.4 miles from Windsor Castle – meaning William and Harry were just a 16 minute drive from one another today.
The Duke of Sussex (seen at High Court in London in April) touched down at Heathrow Airport this morning, but Meghan has stayed in California with their children, Archie and Lilibet
The Prince and Princess of Wales leave after visiting the National Federation of Women’s Institute (WI) in Sunningdale, Berkshire
The Prince and Princess of Wales are welcomed by members during a visit to the National Federation of Women’s Institute
William and Catherine laugh as they speak with members during their visit
The Princess of Wales beams as she chats to members on the third anniversary of the Queen’s death
Prince William , who has taken a much firmer line on rekindling of relations with his brother, has official engagements elsewhere on every day of Harry’s visit
Prince Harry (in car) has returned to Britain for a solo visit with four days of official engagements
On Tuesday, Harry will visit the Community Recording Studio in Nottingham. His team says he will use the visit to announce a ‘substantial donation’ to charity Children in Need to support its work tackling violence impacting young people.
Harry has engagements on Wednesday and Thursday with other charities he is involved in, including the Invictus Games and the Diana Award.
The King has spent most of the summer at his Balmoral estate in Scotland, but is set to be in the capital mid-week for his cancer treatment.
Currently, there is no specified window for a meeting with Charles. However, The Mail on Sunday reported that should an invitation to meet be extended, Harry would drop everything to attend.
The Princess of Wales also visited the Natural History Museum’s newly transformed gardens in London on Thursday, where she showed off her new hair style
A source said: ‘A meeting with Charles is not off the table but the only people who would know about it are Clive Alderton [the King’s private secretary] and Charles and Harry.
‘If anything is planned, then he is keeping this extremely close to his chest. It certainly is part of his intention to see his father.
‘If it’s on Wednesday, then he would make it work.’
