It is understood that the Duchess of Sussex will not be alongside Prince Harry later as he attends the annual WellChild Awards ceremony in London
Meghan will not join husband, Prince Harry, on his latest outing today as the wait for her first public appearance since her UK return continues.
Harry is due to attend the WellChild Awards later today, which celebrate the achievements and resilience of seriously ill youngsters and their families. Meghan has not been seen at a public engagement since the Sussexes returned to the UK in late August, and speculation was rife she would attend the event being staged in London.
Last week, Harry attended major events associated with his Invictus Games but there was no sign of his wife.
It has been reported that Meghan, who last attended the WellChild Awards in 2018, is aiming to rekindle her work with her UK-based charities, but it is understood she will not attend Monday’s charity event. Harry has been patron of WellChild – the national charity for seriously ill children and their families – since 2007 and regularly attends the awards ceremony.
The engagement is described as “continuing his long association with WellChild as the charity’s patron”, with the awards, which he has attended 15 times, being a “significant part of his annual programme”.
In a message on the charity’s website the duke said: “It is always a privilege to be part of the WellChild Awards and to meet the extraordinary children, young people, families and professionals whose courage and determination inspire us all.
“This year feels particularly special as we celebrate 20 years of the WellChild Nurse programme; two decades of supporting thousands of children and families and helping them to live more of their lives at home.
“These awards are a wonderful opportunity to celebrate that impact, but above all to celebrate the incredible people at the heart of it. Their stories are a powerful reminder of what can be achieved through compassion, connection and community.”
During the event, Harry will meet this year’s winners and their families, carers and health professionals to hear about their experiences supporting children with serious and complex health needs.
At last Thursday’s inaugural Invictus Spirit Awards in London, Harry broke his silence for the first time since returning to the UK to describe the short period back home as “eventful”.
Harry spoke during his first public appearance after arriving from the US with his family and declared: “It’s wonderful to be back on British soil.”
Since the Sussexes flew home on August 26 they have been involved in a public spat with Buckingham Palace about their status and their children have moved schools after issues were raised by their security team about the school run.
Harry’s comments were made at an event for the Invictus Games, a Paralympic-style tournament for wounded and injured service personnel and veterans he first staged in 2014 and which is due to be hosted by Birmingham next year.
He told Hello! magazine during the inaugural Invictus Spirit Awards, staged on Thursday night: “The last two weeks have been… it’s been eventful.
“But, you know, we’re getting stuck into the work. Kids are in school. We’re happy. And as I said, it’s great to be back on British soil, and looking forward to Birmingham next year for the Invictus Games that’s coming up.”
The duke said during the event at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, south-east London: “It’s great. It’s wonderful to be back on British soil and really nice to see so many old faces and friends that came to this, and new faces as well, and new donors. And most of all, I guess, my Invictus family.
The Sussexes stepped down as working royals in 2020 for personal and financial reasons but rumours remain rife as to why they unexpectedly relocated to the UK from California, where they had created a life away from the institution of the monarchy.
Speculation ranges from the couple wanting their children to develop a closer relationship with their grandfather the King, Meghan seeking a return to acting and the Sussexes wanting to increase their profile.
In the run-up to their return Charles was said to be glad to be able to spend more time with the Sussex family, but remained adamant they would not be working royals, and there was no half-in, half-out option.
Within two weeks of arriving there was reported pushback from the Sussexes after a letter, authorised by the King, was circulated by the Lord Chamberlain to senior stakeholders in the Government and military reiterating the couple were “private citizens” and setting out guidance on how they should be treated.
Harry and Meghan were said to be “surprised” by the formal letter and the couple, who are waiting to hear whether they will be given taxpayer-funded security, were reported to prefer the term “public figures” instead.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: mirror.co.uk
