Prince Harry Set To Return To UK After His Birthday, But Without Meghan Markle

Prince Harry is set to return to the UK for the WellChild Awards, where he has been a patron for 16 years.

However, the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, is not expected to accompany her husband, further increasing the number of trips the duke has made to the UK without his wife.

Prince Harry’s upcoming visit to his home country comes after he turned 40, and he received birthday wishes from the royal family, including a hefty inheritance.

Harry is reportedly set to visit the UK later this month to attend a charity event – the annual WellChild Awards, where he continues to serve as the charity’s patron for 16 years.

The WellChild Awards, a significant event in Harry’s calendar when he was a working royal, celebrate the courage of children with serious health conditions and recognize the dedication of their families and caregivers.

Despite stepping back from the majority of his royal patronages at the request of his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, WellChild, is among the few UK-based charities Harry remained involved with after stepping down from royal duties and relocating to the U.S.

However, there has been no indication that Meghan will accompany Harry to the event. Some reports suggest the Duchess of Sussex has no intention of returning to the UK, even skipping a chance to step outside the airport when they last visited the country earlier this year during a stopover before their trip to Nigeria.

Christopher Andersen, author of “The King,” told Fox News Digital that Meghan “would be perfectly happy never setting foot in the U.K. again.”

“Harry and Meghan have a fairly idyllic life in California, regardless of what their critics like to imagine,” Andersen explained. “Meghan probably came to terms with their situation… with the royal family much earlier than Harry has – if indeed he has.”

“Meghan is more of a realist and realized early on that the monarchy and those who control it are intractable. That goes for the king and the rest of the royal family,” Andersen added.

In its announcement, WellChild acknowledged the “invaluable help” Harry has provided over the years in raising both awareness and funds.

Having attended the WellChild Awards twelve times previously, Harry will once again meet with the winners and their families during a pre-ceremony reception. The duke will also be present at the main event, where he is set to present the Inspirational Child Award (ages 4-6) and deliver a speech.

In a statement, Harry expressed his honor, saying: “I am once again honored to attend this year’s WellChild Awards celebrating the remarkable courage and achievements of children living with complex medical needs.”

He continued, “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 recognize such extraordinary individuals.”

Harry’s upcoming visit to the  UK to attend the WellChild Awards comes after birthday wishes from Buckingham and Kensington Palace shared on social media to mark his 40th birthday.

On the duke’s 40th birthday, the Prince and Princess of Wales joined King Charles and Queen Camilla in publicly acknowledging Harry’s milestone age, a gesture that hadn’t occurred since 2021. This indicates a possible thaw in relations.

The Royal Family’s official X account posted a birthday message for Harry at around 8:30 a.m. UK time, writing, “Wishing The Duke of Sussex a very happy 40th birthday today!” along with a birthday cake emoji.

Later in the morning, William and Kate sent a similar greeting from their joint account. Given the ongoing tensions between the two brothers, it was uncertain if William would publicly acknowledge Harry’s birthday, making the greeting a potential olive branch.

Sources close to the Sussexes have recently indicated that Harry is eager to reconcile with his father. The Daily Mail reported that the Duke also hopes to visit the UK more frequently, but his ongoing legal battle with the Home Office over the withdrawal of his security detail remains a key issue.

Additionally, trust between Harry and his family has been strained, especially after the publication of his revealing memoir “Spare” and the docu-series “Harry & Meghan.”

With Charles currently spending much of his time in Scotland, where he is receiving ongoing cancer treatment and making regular trips to London, there may be a rare chance for a private meeting between him and Harry.

However, the king has a significant event scheduled in Scotland just two days before Harry’s appearance at the WellChild Awards. Both he and Camilla are set to attend the Scottish Parliament’s 25th anniversary celebrations, which suggests the King might remain in Scotland during Harry’s visit to the UK.