Prince Harry live: Meghan Markle and children to join Duke of Sussex in UK for 'family events'

Prince Harry live: Meghan Markle and children to join Duke of Sussex in UK for 'family events' Prince Harry, who was mobbed by nurses at Birmingham Children's Hospital on Thursday, will be joined here by Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, and their kids; Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet Meghan Markle, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet will join Prince Harry in the UK this week — but not for public engagements, it is reported. Instead, it is said the Sussexes will enjoy "private family events, away from the cameras" after Prince Harry's events around the Invictus Games. The 41-year-old royal will, on Friday, be at Birmingham's National Exhibition (NEC) — the primary venue for the 2027 Games — where he will watch and take part in a series of exhibition events alongside competitors from previous Invictus Games. But Meghan's stay would then pave the way for King Charles to have an emotional reunion with his grandchildren; seven-year-old Archie and Lilibet, five, whom he hasn't seen since 2022. That occasion — the late Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee — remains the only time Charles has met Lilibet. The Mirror exclusively reported this week the monarch, 77, has instructed senior aides to engage in ongoing talks with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, to secure time in his busy diary around his public duties, and this looks set now to be Friday or Saturday in London. For updates on Prince Harry, follow our live blog below... Key Events Prince William has paid tribute to the late singer Bonnie Tyler, who has died at the age of 75. The Prince of Wales, who honored Bonnie with her MBE in 2023, wrote: "We are deeply saddened by the passing of Bonnie Tyler. A proud Welsh icon, her extraordinary voice and unforgettable music touched millions around the world and will continue to inspire generations to come. "Our thoughts are with her husband, family, friends and all who loved her. Diolch am y gerddoriaeth. W." The English translation reads: "Thank you for the music." During the one-year-to-go event on Friday being staged at the NEC, the main venue for the 2027 Invictus Games, Harry will watch and take part in a series of exhibition events alongside past competitors. Birmingham will welcome more than 550 wounded, injured and sick service personnel, veterans, and their families, from 26 nations, and the athletes will take part in 12 adaptive sports to support their recovery and inspire others. The King hopes to meet Harry and Meghan this week, paving the way for an emotional reunion with his grandchildren. Charles has instructed senior aides to engage in ongoing talks with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, to secure time in his busy diary around his public duties. Royal sources have revealed that the King is hopeful of arranging the summit, and would not want to pass up the opportunity of seeing Harry’s children Archie and Lilibet. Harry jetted into the UK alone on Monday, leaving Meghan and their children behind after enjoying a family holiday last week in Europe. As rumours continue to swirl about what his wife and children will do next week, Harry has a busy schedule on his hands, with the biggest event of his trip coming tomorrow. On Friday, he will gather at the Natinal Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham alongside key figures involved in the Invictus Games, the sporting event for injured and disabled serving and former military personnel. The NEC is hosting the tournament in July 2027. The event sets off a year-long countdown for the games. Representatives for Meghan Markle are yet to confirm whether the Duchess of Sussex will be visiting the UK next week, the BBC reports. They have also not confirmed whether she is already in the country. Harry has faced a protracted legal battle with the Home Office over the security arrangements for him and his family when in the UK after his level of protection changed when he stepped down as a working royal in 2020. When the duke lost a Court of Appeal challenge against the Home Office last year, he gave a BBC interview in which he expressed hopes of a reconciliation with his family, revealing Charles would not speak to him because of his security court case. Harry added: “I can’t see a world in which I would be bringing my wife and children back to the UK at this point and the things that they’re going to miss is, well, everything you know.” Plans for Harry's wife Meghan and their children, Archie and Lilibet, to come to the UK were made public some time ago. But the plans, which would have seen the trio accompany Harry this week, were ditched at the last second after the Sussexes failed to secure taxpayer-funded private security. When they were backtracked, there was still a possibility that Meghan and the children would join Harry while he promotes the Invictus Games - which are set to take place next year - from Birmingham. While they are now coming to the UK, the family will not be supporting Harry during the Midlands leg of his trip, and will instead confine themselves purely to private family events. Prince Harry is back in the UK, and his return to his homeland has been dramatic to say the least. King Charles's youngest son was ostensibly jetting in from California to promote the next edition of the Invictus Games, which takes place in Birmingham in July 2027. But his visit has been overshadowed by a row over royal accommodation and where Harry would stay on the trip. Harry's camp says he was offered a room at Buckingham Palace but had to delay his acceptance while trying to sort out private security since he was denied police protection. The Duke of Sussex says the Palace withdrew the offer at the last minute. Chris Ship, who is an experienced royal correspondent, has tweeted his understanding - which aligns with our expertise. His tweet, liked by hundreds on X, reads: "So it’s been confirmed that the Duchess of Sussex will NOT attend any public facing engagements in the UK, contrary to the initial plan publicised by the Sussex team. It’s thought Meghan, might still come to the UK with the couple’s children, Archie and Lilibet, but only for private family events, away from the cameras." Meghan Markle is bringing Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet to the UK to join Prince Harry this week, it is understood. But it is believed the Duchess of Sussex, 44, and the children will not participate in public engagements here despite the Duke of Sussex's busy week promoting the Invictus Games. While Harry will be at a public event in Birmingham on Friday, it is reported tonight that Meghan, Archie and Lilibet will only join him for private family events, away from the cameras. It does, though, pave the way for King Charles to have an emotional reunion with his grandchildren whom he hasn't seen since 2022. The King, 77, has only met Archie, seven, on a handful of occasions when Harry and Meghan lived in the UK and only met five-year-old Lilibet once when the family returned for the late Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee. Meghan Markle to bring Archie and Lilibet to UK this week to join Prince Harry for 'family events' The Duke of Sussex has issued a statement on his visit to Birmingham Children’s Hospital today, in which he celebrated the 20th anniversary of the very first WellChild Nurse. Reflecting on the emotional visit - which saw him speak with patients, careers and dedicated staff - he said: “It is always a privilege to spend time with the children, families and professionals at the heart of WellChild’s work. “Today’s visit to Birmingham Children’s Hospital is particularly special as we celebrate 20 years of the remarkable WellChild Nurse programme which has delivered two decades of helping children with complex medical needs transition home from hospital and supporting the families who care for them every day. “Over the past 18 years as Patron of WellChild, I have had the privilege of seeing first-hand the extraordinary impact these nurses have had on thousands of children and families across the UK. I have seen the difference specialist nursing support can make, from empowering families with the confidence to care for their children at home, to helping children have the opportunity to live their best lives, surrounded by those who love them most. “I am especially proud to have supported WellChild’s work here at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, helping to strengthen the specialist support available to local families through a dedicated WellChild Nurse post. Seeing the WellChild Nurses, families and NHS teams working together today is a powerful reminder of why this programme matters. “It’s so important that WellChild, Birmingham Children’s Hospital and NHS teams continue to work together to give children with complex needs the care, support and opportunities they deserve.” Prince Harry spent the day at Birmingham Children's Hospital today, where he spoke freely about the 'financial difficulties' facing the NHS. Speaking to an audience of charity leaders, nursing staff and families, the Duke of Sussex acknowledged the mounting challenges facing healthcare workers. "I understand, and we understand, that becomes harder every week with cuts and financial difficulties... just the insanity that seems to be circulating, not just in this country but in general," he said. "I don't know if you hear it enough, the difference that you make every single day is quite literally changing daily lives," he said, as he emphasised how the vital hospital simply cannot function without its dedicated staff members. Whie undertaking a day of engagements in East Sussex, William visited Hastings Commons, an organisation taking derelict buildings into community ownership and making them into social spaces. He asked people playing pool at a youth club created in one of the Commons’ buildings if it felt like a safe space, and if it changed their use of social media. One young girl, who was drawing, told William: “I prefer being here with friends than being on social media”. The prince's visit highlighted vital work of local youth-led and community-driven organisations. While the relationship between the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex is strained, the brothers still have one thing in common: their love of football. In Hastings today, Prince William spoke with royal fans about England's chance in winning the quarter-final match on Saturday. Hesaid he was “confident” about England’s chances against Norway, as he heir-to-the-throne shared his mood when he surprised a class of four and five year olds eating their packed lunches on the beach. Parent volunteer Ben Tivey, 40, who was accompanying daughter Tilly, five, and other members of Diamond Class at Cranbrook Church of England Primary School, raised the subject of the World Cup, telling William: “Come on England!” The Prince, smiling broadly, replied: ”I’m feeling confident.” Meanwhile, Prince Harry spoke with WellChild patient Wyatt Makwana while at Birmingham Children's Hospital as they also spoke about the upcoming World Cup match. Wyatt, 12, said: “If England do win against Norway, I don’t think they will get past the semis,” and Harry made the room laugh when he replied: “Let’s hope you’re wrong.” The Prince of Wales has placed top of a celebrity leaderboard at a Hastings seafront crazy golf course, after taking on the famous windmill hole. The Prince, who said he had played mini golf with his family before, played five holes at Hastings Adventure Golf as part of a day out with local young people. Joining teenagers on the seafront, as a small crowd watched, he did not manage a hole in one, but finished respectably. The Prince was introduced to the traditional course by expert players David and Marion Hartley, members of Hastings Mini Golf Club who managed the course for 14 years before they retired, and Murray Thompson, who came second in the World Mini Golf Championships last year. Mr and Mrs Hartley, who are 74 and 75 respectively and both among the country's leading players, joked that they would not be going easy on the Prince, but would give him tips "if he asked". The Prince had made it known to them, via his Kensington Palace team, that he was particularly keen to play the windmill hole, which involves hitting the ball through moving sails to send it through the windmill and into the hole. He hit the ball through on the second attempt, making it a hole in three. He played four other holes in total - two with the experts and two with local young people - taking two attempts each time to hit the ball into the hole. The Prince joked that "next time he would play with a bunch of eight-year-olds, so I might have more chance". Mr Thompson, 41, hit hole-in-ones each time. "Stop it Murray," said the Prince as he watched him repeat the feat. "Oh my Lord, Murray!" Locals had not been aware that the Prince was visiting the mini golf course, with a few dozen people - friends and family of staff - gathering to catch a glimpse of him before words spread. The Prince said of his prior mini golf experience with his family: "We've played a few times. The children love it." One player reassured him: "We'll stand back when you swing." When he potted the golf ball in two goes for the first straightforward hole, the Prince said: "Phew." Mrs Hartley gave him some advice for the "tricky" third hole - the Prince took on holes one, three, and five - and he repeated "Ok, hug the wood". "You make it look so easy," he told his fellow players, as they each got a hole in one through the windmill. While on a day of engagements in Hastings, William was presented with a silver winkle as he became an honorary member of The Winkle Club, a charitable organisation founded by local fishermen in 1900 to support deprived families in the area, which now supports good causes and community groups across the town. “That’s a stunning winkle,” said the Prince as he admired the gift, adding with a grin, “ I will take good care of my winkle.” William laughed as he was told how members of the Club, known as “Winklers” carry a winkle shell which they must produce when challenged to “Winkle Up”. Failure to do so results in a fine, which is donated to local charities. There is an exemption for anyone “in working gear”, he was told. “I might do it on the Trooping of the Colour,” he joked. Previous holders of the title bestowed by the charitable organisation include Queen Elizabeth II, the Queen Mother, the Duke of Kent, Sir Winston Churchill and Field Marshal Lord Montgomery. The Prince of Wales said he was “confident” about England’s chances against Norway this weekend when asked about the football on a day trip to Hastings. The heir-to-the-throne shared his mood when he surprised a class of four and five year olds eating their packed lunches on the beach. Parent volunteer Ben Tivey, 40, who was accompanying daughter Tilly, five, and other members of Diamond Class at Cranbrook Church of England Primary School, raised the subject of the World Cup, telling William: “Come on England!” The Prince, smiling broadly, replied: ”I’m feeling confident.” In a lighter moment at Birmingham Children's Hospital today, Prince Harry revealed his son Prince Archie's love of toy building bricks when he shared stories with Alec Hill, 12, and his parents. “Do you know who’s obsessed with Lego? My son Archie – and he’s a master builder,” said Harry, who is rumoured to be planning to bring his young son and daughter to see their grandfather the King some time this week. Prince Harry was mobbed by nurses when he visited a children’s hospital where he spoke about the “financial difficulties” facing the NHS. Harry toured Birmingham Children’s Hospital to celebrate 20 years of the charity WellChild’s specialist nursing programme, helping seriously ill children and their families transition from the hospital to their homes. His appearance caused excitement in the hospital corridors with nurses and other medical staff surrounding him – and one female medic received a hug. Families asked for pictures and the duke posed for a group shot with around a dozen nurses, telling them: “Thank you for everything you do.” Later, the duke, WellChild’s patron, told a room of the charity’s executives, nurses and families: “I don’t know if you hear it enough, the difference that you make every single day is quite literally changing daily lives.” He added: “I understand, and we understand, that becomes harder every week with cuts and financial difficulties… just the insanity that seems to be circulating, not just in this country but in general. “But hospitals like this don’t run without people like you, and families like this can’t be families that they want to be at home without the expertise and the skill set that you’re handing over to them, and WellChild is right at the centre of that.” The King was invited to join staff who were painting snails with UV orange ‘snail polish’, so they can be easily tracked in the wild - but paint his two with purple polish in honour of his visit."I shall do it vey slowly," he joked. He was invited to put a small dot on the top of the shell. "Does it come off eventually?" he asked.He was told that it doesn’t and that it enables researchers to track them and see what new ones are being born. "I’ve done many things before,’ the King said, giggling and wielding a brush covered in regal purple nail polish. ‘But I don’t think I have ever done this!" King Charles and Queen Camilla have spent the day in the blistering sun at London Zoo, meeting all types of animals. At the Giants of the Galápagos tortoise habitat, The King and Queen presented a ‘watermelon cake’ to tortoise Polly, in celebration of the Zoo’s bicentenary.A mere 31 years old, it is anticipated given the species’ longevity means she will be here for the Zoo’s 300th anniversary. They were told how ZSL Fellow Charles Darwin’s observations of Galápagos tortoises were crucial to his theory of evolution.As Polly stood to attention the couple were given tongs to feed her a range of delicious foliage. "It looks like a statue," remarked Camilla, who also ventured to pat her shell.Polly happily tucked in to the treat. Using metal tongs, the Queen fed some of the greenery to Polly while the King offered her some leaves by hand. Polly largely ignored the King’s offering prompting Charles to jokingly ask her keeper whether the tortoise was on a “diet”.