Prince Harry’s next UK trip is locked in, raising questions about whether it might be an opportunity for reconciliation with his family.
The Royal has been confirmed to grace the WellChild Awards in London as its patron on September 30. Harry, who has supported the charity for over a decade and a half, will not only be mingling with the guests but also presenting an award and delivering a heartfelt speech at the event.
He shared his excitement, saying: “I am once again honoured to attend this year’s WellChild Awards celebrating the remarkable courage and achievements of children living with complex medical needs.”
“These incredible young people, along with the dedicated caregivers, nurses, and professionals who tirelessly support them, inspire us all. It is a true privilege to recognise such extraordinary individuals.”
(Image: Getty Images)
This announcement comes hot on the heels of Harry’s 40th birthday celebrations, which saw his Royal kin extend their best wishes via social media a move interpreted by many as a peace offering amidst ongoing family tensions, reports the Mirror.
With Harry’s imminent arrival in the UK, speculation is rife about whether he’ll seize the opportunity for a Royal reconciliation, especially given King Charles’ reported eagerness to mend fences with his son.
An insider revealed to the Mirror: “Much has been said over the fractured nature of the Duke’s relationship with his family and much of his own doing. He is open to reconciliation as is the King. The King’s health, his upcoming autumn tour to Australia and the next chapter of his reign are his main focus, but there is always room to improve relations with his son.”
Prince Harry was last spotted on British soil a few weeks back when he turned up for the funeral of his late uncle Lord Robert Fellowes, married to Princess Diana’s sister Lady Jane Fellowes. Despite being in the same space, Prince Harry didn’t catch up with his father, though his brother Prince William also marked his presence at the funeral yet the feuding brothers apparently didn’t exchange a word.
Previously, Harry popped over to Britain in May for a service marking a decade of the Invictus Games at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, incidentally when the King was in town too.
That had sparked rumours about whether this could signal the start of a patch-up between Charles and his youngest, especially after they briefly crossed paths post the news of Charles’s cancer diagnosis in February.
But at the time, interest was piqued when Harry intimated that his dad was too swamped to meet him, along with subsequent whispers that the King had extended an olive branch by offering Harry lodgings at a Royal estate.
Insiders close to Prince Harry allege that his attempts to reach his father regarding security issues are being ignored. The Duke has faced a tough struggle with regards to the security provided to him in the UK since he gave up his Royal duties, which resulted in the loss of his official police protection for himself and his family.
He’s hit roadblocks in the courts trying to get this security back and is gearing up for an appeal. PEOPLE magazine reports that Harry reckons that his father could play a role in restoring his security detail, but this notion has been slapped down as “wholly inaccurate” by someone at the palace.
To top it off, a pal of the Duke spilled to the mag, “He gets ‘unavailable right now’. His calls go unanswered. He has tried to reach out about the King’s health, but those calls go unanswered too.”
The WellChild Awards take place on September 30.