Harry to return to UK on anniversary of Queen’s death for charity awards

The Duke of Sussex will celebrate the achievements and resilience of seriously ill youngsters and their families during a rare UK visit on the third anniversary of the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

Harry will attend the WellChild awards ceremony in London in his role as the charity’s patron, a position he has held for more than 15 years.

There has been speculation about whether the duke will see his father the King, who is receiving on-going cancer treatment and was in Scotland at the weekend.

The visit follows recent images obtained by the Mail on Sunday showing senior aides to Charles and Harry during a meeting, in what was reported to be a step towards restoring the relationship between the duke and the royal family.

The WellChild awards are being staged exactly three years since the late Queen, the UK’s longest-serving monarch, died peacefully at Balmoral in Scotland on September 8 aged 96, after reigning for 70 years.

During the event, Harry will make a speech, meet and talk with seriously ill children and their families – and present an award to an “inspirational child” aged between four and six.

The duke has attended the awards 14 times before and has held the role of the charity’s patron for 17 years.

The charity brands itself as the national UK children’s charity “making it possible for children and young people with complex medical needs to thrive at home instead of hospital, wherever possible”.

In a statement ahead of the visit, Harry said: “For 20 years these awards have highlighted the courage of young people living with complex health needs and shone a light on the devoted caregivers – family and professionals – who support them every step of the way. Their stories remind us of the power of compassion, connection and community.”

The duke was last seen in the UK in May, when he lost a long-running legal battle with the Home Office over changes to his security arrangements.