Prince Harry chatted to inspirational winners at the WellChild Awards in London tonight – and made light of sibling rivalry amid his tense feud with brother Prince William
Prince Harry made a cryptic comment about ‘challenging’ sibling rivalry – just hours after he and estranged brother Prince William separately honoured the late Queen.
The Duke of Sussex jetted into the UK this morning for a week of solo engagements in his homeland, which included an appearance at the WellChild Awards tonight.
Earlier he had been at St George’s Chapel in Windsor, where he laid a wreath of flowers and privately paid his respects to his late grandmother on the third anniversary of her death. At the same time, just a 15-minute drive away in Sunningdale, the Prince and Princess of Wales remembered the former monarch by visiting the Women’s Institute (WI), in tribute to the late Queen’s decades-long association with the organisation.
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Tonight, he attended the WellChild Awards and joked and laughed with seriously ill youngsters ahead of a glittering awards ceremony recognising their efforts to succeed and thrive despite life-threatening conditions.
When he chatted to Declan Bitmead, 17 – winner of the inspirational young person 15-18 years award, he quizzed him about family life, asking if he had siblings and the teenager replied he had a younger brother.
“Does he drive you mad?” asked the duke, and Declan replied “no, we get on fine” – and Harry quipped with a smile “you know what – siblings”.
When told the 17-year-old, from Oxted in Surrey, and his brother went to the same school, the duke said “you’re at the same school, that sometimes makes it more challenging”.
It comes as relations between William and Harry remain strained, with the Prince of Wales rejecting any reconciliation with Harry, in their years-long feud. However, hopes remain that during his trip to the UK this week, Harry could meet up with his father, the King.
Charles marked the third anniversary of his accession privately at Balmoral yesterday, but is believed to be in London later this week at the same time as his son.
Sources have said there is a determination on both sides to make a meeting happen, with Wednesday being touted as a potential date.
Harry, who previously admitted he wanted reconciliation with his family, is said to be ready to ‘drop everything’ to attend a meeting. A source said: “As Harry has stated before, he’d love to see his family and be reconciled.”
However, both Buckingham Palace and spokespeople for Harry have refused to be drawn on when or whether a meeting will take place.
Father and son last met face to face almost 20 months ago when the duke made a transatlantic dash to see the monarch in February 2024 after hearing of his cancer diagnosis, but they spent just over 30 minutes together before the King left to recuperate in Sandringham.