Thursday marked the first official duty in the U.K. for Prince Harry since coming back to the country, with each member of the royal family undertaking separate tasks on what turned into a busy day for Britain’s royal household.
Arriving at the Royal Naval College in London, Harry, dressed in a tuxedo with military medals, waved to photographers and posed alongside members of the Irish Guards before the Invictus Spirit Awards. The ceremony marked the Invictus Games, the Paralympic-style competition for wounded veterans that Harry, a veteran, created over a decade ago.
“It’s good to be back on British soil,” he told reporters at the event.
A Family of Three Engagements
Harry came back on a day when his father, King Charles III, and his brother, Prince William, both had official duties to carry out as well.
In the morning, Charles spoke about artificial intelligence at an event held in Scotland. Later, William and his wife Kate, the Princess of Wales, travelled to the Isle of Bute, also in Scotland, for their own royal engagement.
Harry and Meghan have returned to the U.K., and neither William nor Charles has spoken publicly about it.
The Letter From King Charles
King Charles released a letter on Sept. 8, and it stands as the sole statement the royal family has issued regarding the Sussexes’ return. The missive states that Harry and Meghan will remain “private citizens”, and they will not serve as working royals while living in the U.K.
Harry and Meghan were “surprised” by the letter, their spokesperson told ABC News at the time. The couple has not commented further.
A Decade of Wounded Veterans
Over a decade ago, Harry founded an event styled after the Paralympics for wounded veterans, and it has since grown into what is now known as the Invictus Games.
Thursday’s Invictus Spirit Awards were Harry’s first public appearance since he and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, moved back to the U.K. last month with their two children, Archie and Lilibet.
Six years have passed since Harry and Meghan stepped back from their senior royal roles in 2020, and during that time the family has lived in California.
A New Calendar for Harry
Follow the royal family of Harry’s return engagement comes as he builds his own schedule as a non-working member of the royal family. The busy day marks a new reality for Britain, as they move through their official royal duties and public appearances.
Next week, Harry is set to appear and deliver remarks at the WellChild Awards, a London event recognizing seriously ill children. The couple has attended the WellChild Awards several times before.
From there, Harry is scheduled to participate in the Clinton Global Initiative annual meeting, set to be held Sept. 22-23 in New York.
The Terms of Their Departure
The arrangement reached when Harry and Meghan stepped back from their senior royal roles in 2020 meant they gave up their royal highness titles, stopped representing the monarchy, and stopped receiving public funds for royal duties. That freed them to make money on their own.
Since then, Harry and Meghan have kept up their appearances at public events, though they no longer do so in any official royal role.
The Strained Relations Between Brothers
Since leaving the United Kingdom, Harry has had a difficult relationship with certain members of his royal family, especially William.
King Charles’s letter laid out the family’s position plainly: Harry and Meghan are private citizens, not working royals. The couple has not answered publicly beyond the ABC statement.
Key Facts Box
- Invictus Spirit Awards: Thursday, Royal Naval College, London
- WellChild Awards: Next week, London
- Clinton Global Initiative: Sept. 22-23, New York
- Return to U.K.: Last month, with Archie and Lilibet
- Time in California: Six years
- Stepped away from senior roles: 2020
Schedule at a Glance
| Date | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday | Invictus Spirit Awards | Royal Naval College, London |
| Next week | WellChild Awards | London |
| Sept. 22-23 | Clinton Global Initiative | New York |
The royal family spent the day performing their duties apart from one another. Charles addressed artificial intelligence in Scotland. William went to the Isle of Bute with Kate. Harry marked wounded veterans in London.
Each man did his duty without comment on the others.
After his return to the U.K., Harry’s first official engagement was a modest one. He welcomed photographers, stood beside soldiers and informed reporters that he was pleased to be back on British soil again.
The royals have made their statement. They are now watching to see how Harry responds.
King Charles’s letter shut the door on Harry’s former position. It did not settle what his next role would be. The busy day on Thursday gave some clarity: Harry can still appear before the public, still raise his hand to wave, still speak for the causes he cares about.
Each branch of the royal family is currently fulfilling its obligations, one public appearance at a time, just as it has always done.
Source material: “Prince Harry attends 1st official engagement since return to UK,” Abcnews.
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