Prince Harry's brief UK visit amidst father's illness; set to attend Invictus Games anniversary in spring

Reports concerning the British court have extensively circulated the global media since the beginning of last week. This is due to information about King Charles III's health. After the king was diagnosed with cancer and Buckingham Palace released an official statement about his illness, Prince Harry immediately visited the UK. During his visit, the 39-year-old prince met his father and his father's partner, Camilla, at Clarence House. However, their discussion was brief. According to The Independent, the prince was in the presence of his father and stepmother for only 45 minutes. The Daily Mail reported that Harry left the UK almost immediately after the encounter, staying in the country for less than 24 hours. Shortly after reaching the US, the prince appeared at an NFL gala.

Prince Harry's last visit to his homeland sparked much discussion among British media concerning the possibility of reconciling with his family members. It can be said with some certainty that in terms of family relationships, Harry's trip to the UK did not bring about any significant changes. It was reported that the prince did not get a chance to meet William and Kate Middleton. Furthermore, according to the Daily Mail, Charles wasn't particularly pleased by his younger son's unexpected visit. However, it appears that Harry might have another opportunity to meet with his royal family members soon, as he is scheduled to make a return to his homeland.

On Sunday, the Express reported that Prince Harry is likely to visit the UK again next spring. In May, the son of King Charles III is scheduled to appear at St. Paul's Cathedral in London. A solemn service marking the anniversary of the founding of the Invictus Games will take place there.

Harry was the initiator of the aforementioned Invictus Games, a competitive event for soldiers and war veterans, and has been supporting it for years. Just a few months ago, the prince attended the latest edition of the event in Düsseldorf, Germany. Meghan Markle joined him after the opening ceremony. The Invictus Games started in 2014, thus they will be celebrating their tenth anniversary this year.

Notably, the British government has recently begun initiatives to return the Invictus Games to their homeland in future years. The inaugural 2014 event was held at London's Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The government has revealed a multi-million dollar proposal that would facilitate organizing the event in Birmingham in 2027. The British Minister for Veterans and proponent of the idea, Johnny Mercer, was quoted by the Express saying that this is an opportune time for the event to return to the UK and the government will do its utmost to make it happen. An anonymous source associated with the project suggested that Prince Harry also favors the idea.

"Harry gave the impression that he has no objections to the Invictus Games returning to Britain, and we understand that the games always had the support of other members of the royal family," shared a source quoted by the Express.

Do you think Meghan Markle will accompany the prince during his visit to the UK in May?