Meghan will bring Archie and Lilibet to the UK to join Harry this weekend but won’t be seen in public
Prince Harry may be joined by Meghan Markle and their two children in the UK by the weekend.
Meghan, Archie and Lilibet are not expected to appear at any public engagements – but talks about a reunion with King Charles remain ongoing.
The Duchess of Sussex had wanted to support Harry at an Invictus Games event in Birmingham today, but is now not expected to attend.
The Duke of Sussex yesterday met seriously ill children and nurses at Birmingham Children’s Hospital as his five-day trip to Britain continued.
Harry toured the wards as he marked the 20th anniversary of the hospital’s WellChild Nurse programme, having been patron of the charity for 18 years.
The royal, who arrived in London on Monday, has not been joined in the UK by Meghan or their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet due to a row over security.
However, it was last night reported that the Duchess of Sussex and the children could be coming to the UK this weekend, although the trio are not expected to be seen at any public engagements.
If, as expected, the Sussexes make their home at Althorp, the ancestral home of Harry’s maternal family, the Spencers, for the next couple of days, it may be that a meeting with King Charles doesn’t take place until this weekend – or possibly even Monday, before His Majesty embarks on another busy week of engagements.
Highgrove, Sandringham or Windsor could be a venue, as Harry has made clear he won’t bring his family to London because he is convinced it is ‘unsafe’.
Prince Harry, Patron of WellChild, meeting patient Alec Hill, 12, who has a rare chromosomal condition, meeting in Birmingham yesterday
Harry greets a child as he leaves the Birmingham Children’s Hospital
Harry’s visit to the UK is part of the ‘One Year to Go’ celebrations for the next Invictus Games in the city in July 2027.
On Wednesday, he was also at the Royal Hospital Chelsea for meetings about the Invictus Games Foundation, including a summit for international team managers.
They spoke about plans for the Invictus Spirit Awards in the capital this September.
While Harry was in Birmingham, other members of the Royal Family carried on with a busy series of summer engagements – with the duke’s estranged brother Prince William travelling to Hastings on Thursday to meet a fishing community as well as local youth-led and community-driven organisations.
In Birmingham yesterday, Harry was surrounded by nurses when he visited the hospital and spoke about the ‘financial difficulties’ facing the NHS.
Harry was highlighting WellChild’s specialist nursing programme, helping seriously ill children and their families transition from the hospital to their homes.
His appearance caused excitement in the hospital corridors, with one female medic receiving a hug.
Families asked for pictures and the duke posed for a group shot with around a dozen nurses, telling them: ‘Thank you for everything you do.’
It has been reported Meghan could make her first return to the UK since 2022, accompanied by her children Prince Archie, seven, and five-year-old Lilibet, in time for the weekend – but will not be seen in public
Harry met two nurses funded by WellChild, which facilitates the early discharge of children by teaching their parents the skills needed to provide care at home, and met some of the young patients.
In a lighter moment the duke revealed his son’s love of toy building bricks when he shared stories with Alec Hill, 12, and his parents.
‘Do you know who’s obsessed with Lego? My son Archie – and he’s a master builder,’ said Harry.
Harry’s five-day visit to the UK, which moved to Birmingham yesterday, is part of the ‘One Year to Go’ celebrations for the next Invictus Games in the city in July 2027.
