Prince Harry is expected to touch down on UK soil in the next couple of days – but he won’t be accompanied by his wife.
The Duke of Sussex is set to attend the Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral next Wednesday, May 8, to mark the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games Foundation.
But it appears Harry’s wife, Meghan Markle, won’t be attending the event.
The star-studded event marks a decade since the first Invictus Games was held in London in 2014 – and Prince Harry is one of the founders of the games, which celebrate the sporting achievements of injured and sick military veterans.
An Invictus Games spokesperson confirmed the Duke’s attendance and said he will be honouring the occasion with a special reading.
Actor Damian Lewis will also be in attendance and is expected to recite the Invictus poem.
Representatives from across the Invictus Games participating nations will be attending the heartwarming service.
They include members of the wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veteran community, The Sun reports.
The event is being held two days after Harry’s son Prince Archie celebrates his fifth birthday – which may be why the Duchess of Sussex is not expected to attend.
Harry’s trips to the UK so far this year
Prince Harry hasn’t spent much time in the UK in 2024 so far.
Back in February, when King Charles announced his cancer diagnosis, Harry flew back to visit his dad – but he jetted back home only a day later.
But the Duke of Sussex has also attended a number of events throughout the year.
In January he paid tribute to his late mother in an acceptance speech at the Aviation Awards in Los Angeles. He was honoured as a ‘living legend of aviation’ for his time as a forward air controller and an Apache helicopter pilot in the British Army.
He presented an NFL award in Las Vegas on February 9 – making no mention of Charles’ cancer diagnosis during his first public appearance since the news was announced.
In mid-February Harry and Meghan arrived in Vancouver, Canada, to promote the Invictus Games while meeting competitors.
Harry was interviewed on Good Morning America later that month, where he said he hoped Charles’ cancer diagnosis would help the family pull together and reunite.
On March 11 he and Meghan made a surprise appearance at a party held to celebrate the birthday of a teacher killed in a school shooting.
The Sussexes visited the family of Irma Garcia, who was killed at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, in 2022.
A memorial event for his mum, Princess Diana, was held in March – but Harry only appeared via videolink after William had left the building.
This will be Harry’s first time in the UK since his sister-in-law Kate Middleton announced she is receiving treatment for cancer.
Royal experts are speculating whether a reunion between Prince Harry, Prince William and King Charles could be on the cards, as the Buckingham Palace Garden Party falls on the same day as the Invictus Games Service of Thanksgiving.
The King announced earlier this week that he is well enough to return to public-facing duties, so he may well attend the garden party, with both of his sons also potentially in attendance.
But it’s thought William and Kate have ‘no plans’ to reconcile with Harry, whose relationship with his brother is fractured at best.
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James Parker is a UK-based entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to the West End, he offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
