Royal family news – latest: Prince Harry speaks about ‘challenging’ relationships amid Charles reunion rumours

The Duke of Sussex has laid a wreath and flowers in memory of his grandmother, the late Queen, on the third anniversary of her death.

The Duke arrived in the UK on Monday and travelled to the late Queen’s tomb in the King George VI Memorial Chapel within Windsor Castle’s St George’s Chapel, a spokesperson for the Sussexes said.

He laid a wreath and flowers and privately paid his respects.

Prince Harry has returned to the UK for the first time in five months for a series of engagements.

After arriving on Monday, the Duke of Sussex paid his respects to the late Queen privately on the third anniversary of her death.

On Monday evening Harry attended the WellChild awards ceremony in London in his role as the charity’s patron, a position he has held for more than 15 years.

He is then expected to travel to a community recording studio in Nottingham on Tuesday.

Prince Harry’s visit comes after senior aides to the King and Harry were pictured together in London this July.

The new team handling Harry and Meghan’s communications, headed by Los Angeles-based Meredith Maines, was seen on the balcony of a private members’ club in London speaking with Tobyn Andreae, the king’s press representative.

It was reported to be an initial step towards opening channels of communication between the two sides.

Harry is due to revisit the Community Recording Studio (CRS) in Nottingham’s St Ann’s area on Tuesday.

Harry last visited the CRS to mark World Mental Health Day in October 2019, just two months before he and the Duchess of Sussex announced they were stepping down as senior working royals and moving to North America.

He is planning to hold a private briefing with Children in Need, the Police and Crime Commission, the CRS and community outreach group Epic Partners in Nottingham, stage informal catch-ups with some of the young people he met before, and watch performances from CRS artists and make a short speech.

It is not known whether the duke, who is estranged from his brother, the Prince of Wales, and has a troubled relationship with his father, the King, will stage a reunion during his UK stay.

The King, who is currently at Balmoral in Aberdeenshire, and the Queen have no public engagements planned for this week.

Harry and Charles last met face-to-face more than a year and a half ago when the duke made a transatlantic dash to see the monarch in February 2024 after hearing of his cancer diagnosis.

They spent just over 30 minutes together before the King left to recuperate in Sandringham.

The Independent’s Harry Cockburn reports:

Prince Harry is seeking to repair his relationship with the royals – and the UK government – in a bid to win greater security for his family on visits to Britain, it is understood.

According to reports quoting friends of Harry, he is keen to make more frequent visits to Britain from his home in California – and also bring his wife and children with him.

They told The Sunday Times he wants to “bring his family back to the UK” and be able to show his children “where he grew up”.

“He’s not given up hope on bringing his family back to the UK,” they said.

“He wants to be able to show his children where he grew up. He wants them to know their family here. He really would like to come back to the UK much more.”

The King’s third year as monarch has been his busiest and most widely-travelled so far, despite continuing to receive treatment for cancer, analysis suggests.

Charles carried out official engagements on 175 days during the past 12 months, compared with 133 the previous year and 161 in the first year of his reign.

Besides journeying by air, rail and road, this year has seen the King celebrate his 20th wedding anniversary to the Queen, become the first British monarch to address the Italian parliament, and share his personal playlist of favourite songs.

He also clocked up the 1,000th day of his reign since his accession to the throne.

The figures have been compiled by the PA news agency using the Court Circular, which is the official record of the royal family’s activities.