The Duke of Sussex attended the inaugural Invictus Spirit Gala Dinner and Awards in London
Credit: David Levene/Invictus Games/PA Wire
NEED TO KNOW
- Prince Harry was asked about his recent return to the U.K. during his first public event since moving back to his home country
- The Duke of Sussex attended the inaugural Invictus Spirit Gala Dinner and Awards
- There, he told reporters that the last couple of weeks had been “eventful”
Prince Harry was asked about his recent return to the U.K. as he stepped out for his first public event since his family’s move.
The Duke of Sussex, 42, attended the inaugural Invictus Spirit Gala Dinner and Awards in London on Thursday, Sept. 17, marking his biggest outing to date since moving back to England with Meghan Markle, 45, and their children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5.
Asked to pick a highlight of his return, he joked: “My highlight so far? Oh, I don’t know. Would I dare share it with you?”
“The last two weeks have been…it’s been eventful,” he continued. “But, you know, we’re getting stuck into the work. Kids are in school. We’re happy. And as I said, it’s great to be back on British soil, and looking forward to Birmingham next year for the Invictus Games that’s coming up.”
Credit: Chris Jackson/Getty
The inaugural Invictus Spirit Gala Dinner and Awards raised $2.2 million toward the Invictus Games movement, supporting veterans and service personnel. Harry, a British Army veteran, created the Invictus Games in 2014, an international adaptive sporting competition inspired by the U.S.’s Warrior Games.
Meghan didn’t join Harry at the gala, as an insider says her focus is on getting the children settled in following the move.
PEOPLE understands that Prince Harry and Meghan plan to establish a non-royal home base in the U.K., while maintaining their previous residence in Montecito, Calif., where they lived for six years.
Archie and Lili started school shortly after the family arrived in England. However, just two days into the term, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex moved their children to a different school amid security concerns.
A spokesperson for the couple told PEOPLE at the time, “The decision for the children to move schools was taken following a discussion with the family’s security team about the practicalities of their current arrangements.”
“The parents remain extremely grateful to all the teachers and staff for the love, care and effort they have shown their family,” the spokesperson adds. “This decision should in no way be interpreted as a reflection on the school or the exceptional care the children have received there.”
Credit: Matt Dunham – WPA Pool/Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan’s return to the U.K. does not mean a return to their past roles as working royals, from which they stepped back in 2020. King Charles reiterated this in a letter issued via the Lord Chamberlain, Lord Benyon, on Sept. 7.
The letter stated that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are “no longer working Members of The Royal Family” and said their position, including the “personal latitude it brings the couple in respect of financial independence and protection of their privacy as they would wish,” would continue to be respected.
“In short, their position is akin to private citizens with commercial and charitable interests,” the letter continued.
However, a source close to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex pushed back on the description as “private citizens,” telling PEOPLE, “They are public figures. Members of the public know who they are. The idea that they can live a normal, ‘private’ life is sadly not realistic.”
Credit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty
Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!
It emerged on Sept. 9 that Uganda was pulling out of the Invictus Games, a decision that a source told PEOPLE was a “direct result” of the Lord Chamberlain’s letter, believing the Duke of Sussex’s contest lacked the King’s support. However, the decision was reversed following a phone call between General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the son of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and head of the country’s armed forces, and the King’s principal private secretary, Sir Clive Alderton, reassuring him that the monarch had “no problem” with the Invictus Games.
Prince Harry also celebrated his 42nd birthday on Sept. 15. Meghan marked the occasion by sharing new posts on Instagram, including photos of Harry in dad mode with Archie and Lili.
Read the full article here
