PRINCE Harry tonight paid tribute to the Queen one year on from her death – saying his grandmother was “looking down on us, happy we’re together”.
The Duke of Sussex, 38, jetted into London for the WellChild awards solo – revealing his wife Meghan was “very upset” not to be with him.
Prince Harry paid tribute to the Queen one year on from her deathCredit: Hello!
He attended the WellChild AwardsCredit: Hello!
Harry with the Queen before her deathCredit: AFP or licensors
Harry told one family that his wife Meghan Markle was “very upset that she couldn’t be here” – ahead of a “busy week” for the couple, who will attend the Invictus Games in Dusseldorf next week.
But while he reportedly has no plans to meet his family – including dad King Charles or brother Prince William – the fifth-in-line to the throne paid tribute to the Queen, one year on from her death.
Speaking at the awards, Harry said: “As you know I was unable to attend the awards last year as my grandmother passed away.
“As you also probably also know she would have been the first person to insist that I still come to be with you all instead of going to her.
“And that’s precisely why I know exactly one year one that she’s looking down on us tonight, happy we are together – continuing to spotlight such an incredible community.”
Prince Harry had dashed to Scotland to be by his grandmother’s side last year but tragically missed the opportunity to say goodbye to the 96-year-old.
Since her death, Harry has continued to live in the US with wife Meghan Markle and their children Archie, 4, and Lilibet, 2 – only returning to the UK a handful of times.
The duke has previously returned for his High Court battle, along with his father’s coronation on May 6 this year.
The coronation was a flying visit, with Harry jetting out just hours after his father was crowned king.
And his UK trip this week is expected to be just as short, with the prince soon heading to Dusseldorf in Germany for the start of the Invictus Games on Saturday.
Prince Harry returned to London solo, with his kids Archie and Lilibet, remaining in the US.
But he gave a sweet nod to his kids as he spoke to fellow parents at the event, saying he was “acutely aware of the joys and challenges of parenting”.
He has been a patron of the non-profit charity for 15 years and spent an hour with the charity’s winners and their families at The Hurlingham Club tonight.
The WellChild Awards comes just days before the Duke’s 39th birthday on 15 September.
Prince William is not thought to have been in touch with the Duke of Sussex for months and today visited Bournemouth – 100 miles away – on Royal duties.
William seemed in high spirits at the engagement – even getting a cheeky kiss from football legend Paul Gascoigne.
King Charles is currently enjoying a private break up in the Scottish Highlands – and was seen today driving near Balmoral.
Harry, making his first appearance in the UK since June, cut a relaxed figure as he sat with seriously ill children and their families during a pre-ceremony reception at The Hurlingham Club in south-west London on Thursday.
He spoke with them about their interests and hobbies and had several interactions with their accompanying balloons, which were shaped as different animals.
It was the first time the royal had been seen in the UK since his high-profile legal case at the High Court against Mirror Group Newspapers earlier in the year.
The event was also being staged on the eve of the first anniversary of the death of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.
Harry, a WellChild patron for 15 years, sat down with each young award winner in turn before chatting to adult winners at the reception, which lasted just under an hour.
The duke fist-bumped two of the boys receiving Inspirational Young Person awards – George Hall, 11, from Skipton, North Yorkshire, and Blake McCaughey, 15, from Tandragee in County Armagh.
Blake and his family gifted Harry a green Belfast Giants ice hockey shirt, personalised with the duke’s name on the back.
The pair then talked about Blake’s tiger balloon, and Harry asked him “Do you want to take this home with you?” to which the teenager shook his head.
Another award winner, seven-year-old Poppy Higham, from Runcorn, danced to music by Ed Sheeran in front of Harry, to which he gave warm applause.
The duke then played around with a giraffe balloon and showed Poppy its rotating head, prompting the youngster to pick it up and play with it.
The awards were presented by Big Breakfast star Gaby Roslin – with guests Emma Willis, Dick and Dom, James Cracknell, Charlotte Hawkins and Alex Scott making an appearance.
But while Harry will be in London, the prince is not expected to spend any time with his own British family – with a palace insider claiming his dad Charles has “no time in the diary” to see his son.
And it also seems unlikely that Harry and his brother will be reuniting anytime soon, according to the same source.
Harry’s visit to the UK coincides with the anniversary of the Queen’s death a year ago tomorrow – with Her Majesty dying “peacefully” on September 8 last year.
King Charles and Queen Camilla are expected to mark the poignant anniversary at ÂBalmoral surrounded by family.
Harry is not expected to travel to Scotland for the quiet family gathering.
After the awards ceremony on tonight, Harry will travel to Dusseldorf for the Invictus Games.
The visit is the first time Harry has returned to the UK since his father King Charles’s coronation – but Meghan Markle is not expected to join him on the UK trip.
Her role at the Invictus Games has also been cast into doubt as she was deleted from the schedule.
Harry is not expected to have brought his children, Archie, 4, and Lilibet, 1, for the London trip.
It’s been a busy few weeks for Prince Harry, with the duke this week pictured with Meghan on the first night of Beyonce’s tour.
But pictures showed the former Royal looking particularly glum in their private box, while his wife looked in high spirits.
Harry has also been seen at events by himself – with the dad-of-two was brimming with excitement as he watched Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami win at Los Angeles FC.
Harry was described as a “giddy schoolboy” as he watched a Messi masterclass, despite Meghan not being by his side.
It comes a week after Harry’s first solo Netflix show failed to make the top ten.
During the series, the Duke launched a fresh attack, saying he had “no support structure” to help him cope with the sudden death of his mother at the age of 12.
But Heart of Invictus – the latest series to spring from the couple’s £80 million deal with the streaming giant – has failed to take off since its release.
The six-part series telling the inspirational stories of war wounded soldiers competing in the 2022 Invictus Games is Harry’s first major solo docuseries project.
He said Meghan was ‘upset’ not to be in the UKCredit: PA
Prince Harry is seen arriving at the WellChild awards todayCredit: Goff
William carried on with his Royal duties today – heading to Bournemouth, 100 miles from LondonCredit: Getty
Prince Charles was seen near Balmoral today while his son Harry headed to LondonCredit: Northpix
Harry was gifted an ice hockey shirt with his nameCredit: PA
The prince spent an hour meeting youngstersCredit: PA
Harry beaming at the WellChild eventCredit: PA
Prince Harry is not thought to have any plans to see his family despite being in LondonCredit: PA
William even met GazzaCredit: Getty
King Charles will reportedly have no time to see Harry when he returns to the UKCredit: Getty
