LONDON – Prince Harry is stepping out, under a cloud of royal drama.
The Duke of Sussex attended the WellChild Awards in London on Sept. 21, the eve before his uncle’s bombshell memoir, “Swan Song: Diana, My Sister,” is set to publish globally. The book, though not yet released, has already sent shockwaves through Britain’s royal family, sparking an unusually firm statement from Buckingham Palace.
Duchess Meghan, 45, did not attend the ceremony, which highlights the achievements of seriously ill young people, the professionals that care for them and their families. She has not been seen at a public event since the Sussex family relocated to Britain last month, a move that stunned both sides of the Atlantic and came six years after they left Harry’s home country.
Harry, who is fifth in line to the throne, was named patron of WellChild in 2007 and often attends the awards ceremony. As he arrived Monday, the duke dodged questions from reporters regarding his uncle.
Harry will speak at the event, paying tribute to “the remarkable people who go above and beyond to help those children, young people and families live full and meaningful lives.”
Prince Harry attends the WellChild Awards, at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, in London, Britain, September 21, 2026.
Last week, the duke attended Invictus Games events in Birmingham, England, but there was no sign of Meghan. In comments made during his outing, Harry cited the last few weeks as “eventful.”
Since their return to Britain last month, the pair have indeed faced several obstacles, with lack of police protection and royal security being perhaps their biggest one. The couple lost their taxpayer-funded security when they left the U.K. and their roles as senior royals in 2020. Now that they are back, it is believed their protection will be reviewed by British officials.
Inside every home Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan have shared
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Frogmore Cottage, about 25 miles from London, is situated on the Frogmore Estate in Berkshire. It became Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan’s home in 2019, shortly before they welcomed their first child, Prince Archie.
The cottage is located within the lush, 35-acre Windsor Castle Home Park estate and sits within the tight security zone surrounding Windsor Castle.
(Leon Neal, Getty Images)It’s been a dramatic homecoming for Harry
Earlier this month, the couple were also forced to pull their children out of their new school after just a few days, citing security concerns. As they prepared Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5 for another new school, Meghan’s phone number leaked out of a WhatsApp group created for parents.
Read: How rich are Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan?
Harry has also faced questions about the release of his uncle Earl Spencer’s new book, in which Diana’s brother makes a string of staggering allegations against the monarchy, including his claim that King Charles told Spencer in 1997 that the world would soon forget Diana after her death.
In recent days, the earl has accused King Charles of gaslighting him. He has also spoken out about the rift between Harry and his estranged brother, Prince William, and called tabloid reports about Harry and Meghan “really unpleasant.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Prince Harry steps out in London without Meghan amid royal drama