Harry Makes First UK Public Outing Since Family's Return

Prince Harry attended the inaugural Invictus Spirit Awards in London on Thursday, his first public appearance since moving back to Britain with his family.

Prince Harry made his first public appearance since returning to Britain from the US, attending the inaugural Invictus Spirit Awards at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, south-east London, on Thursday evening. According to the London Evening Standard, the Duke of Sussex, 42, arrived in black tie wearing his military medals, waved to fans, posed for photographs in front of the press, and took selfies with wounded veterans. He also gave a speech at the ceremony, which honours people and organisations at the heart of the global Invictus community. Qazinform reports that when asked how he was doing, Harry told People magazine: "Good. It's good to be back on British soil."

The outing is the first time the duke has been seen publicly since he, Meghan and their two children quietly landed back in the UK on Aug. 26, according to Türkiye Today, which notes the family has maintained a relatively low profile since arriving. The appearance carries weight because the couple left royal duties in January 2020 amid deep family tensions, relocating later that year to California, and the rift worsened after Harry's memoir "Spare," as Türkiye Today recounts. Meghan did not attend the gala; Qazinform reports she was reportedly focused on helping their children, 7-year-old Prince Archie and 5-year-old Princess Lilibet, settle into their new routine.

Per the London Evening Standard, Harry told the story of how Invictus began, describing a 2008 flight home from Afghanistan alongside three seriously injured British servicemen and the coffin of a Danish soldier. He recalled that more than 400 competitors from 13 nations came together for the first Invictus Games in September 2014, and said that now, 12 years later, 26 nations are in the community. "People who thought a part of their life was over began to see that something else might just be beginning," he said, adding a direct message to veterans: "You may no longer wear the uniform, but you still lead."

The London Evening Standard reports the evening drew a host of famous faces, including comedian James Corden, who opened the proceedings, chart-topping singer Jess Glynne, who gave the headline performance, and actor Ross Kemp. British singer and DJ Sonique, who was DJing at the bash and welcomed Harry with a hug, said: "It's nice to have him home. He used to come to my gigs, I have missed him." According to the same report, Harry greeted former England rugby star James Haskell with a bear hug, telling him "great to see you again," before the pair posed at a photo booth.

The appearance comes against a turbulent royal backdrop. Türkiye Today reports that Harry's outing followed a barrage of stinging criticism of King Charles III from Charles Spencer, brother of Harry's late mother Diana, in a new memoir, prompting Buckingham Palace to issue an unusual rebuttal insisting the King "is mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and color memory." Qazinform also reports the King and Queen Camilla met Harry, Meghan and the children for the first time in four years. The Standard adds that both Sussexes will reportedly receive an official risk assessment following their return.

The Invictus Games are coming home: the Standard reports the 2027 edition in Birmingham represents a homecoming not only for the duke but for the games he founded in 2014 for wounded, injured and sick military personnel and veterans. Off stage, the family continues to settle in — the Standard reports Archie and Lilibet, who only just started at their new school in England, will now switch to another one after heavy traffic and the lengthy journey strained the Sussexes' security team, per Hello! magazine. How the couple navigates royal relations from British soil remains the open question.