Prince Harry to make first major appearance since UK return and royals will be 'watching closely'
The eyes of the Royal Family will fall on Prince Harry next week, as he makes his first major public appearance since returning to the UK.
The Duke of Sussex will attend the 2026 WellChild Awards in London on Monday (21 Sept), continuing a long-standing relationship with the charity.
Harry, 42, has been patron of WellChild since 2007 and has attended its annual awards ceremony on numerous occasions, using the event to meet seriously ill children and their families and celebrate the work of those who care for them.
This year is particularly significant, however, given the timing of his appearance.
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The awards come just weeks after Harry and wife Meghan Markle moved back to the UK following a six-year stint in America.
The couple stepped down as senior working royals in 2020, before moving to the US, after citing what they described as intolerable media intrusion and difficulties within the Royal Family.
The Sussexes' long-debated return
Not long after it was confirmed that the Sussexes would be moving back to Britain - where their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, have been enrolled at school - Harry's father, King Charles III, issued a statement reiterating that the couple will remain non-working royals.
The letter was sent from Buckingham Palace to senior figures across government and the military, with officials claiming it was intended 'to help avoid doubt or confusion'.
A representative for Harry and Meghan claimed the couple were reportedly 'surprised' by the King's move.
And now, with Harry preparing for his first major public appearance since returning, one royal etiquette expert says there will be particular attention to how the Duke presents himself.
Royal etiquette expert Laura Windsor told Tyla: "I imagine that the Royal Family will be watching closely to see how Harry presents himself, given what has happened in the past.
Why the firm will be 'watching closely'
"Any public appearance involving a member of the Royal Family always carries a certain degree of scrutiny, particularly when there is a history of contention and embarrassment that has attracted a lot of attention."
The 'Queen of Etiquette' also believes the distinction between Harry attending as the Duke of Sussex and carrying out what might be seen as a royal engagement needs to be made clear.
"As we all know, the Duke of Sussex is NOT a working member of the Royal Family, and an invitation to attend an event does not mean that it is an official royal engagement," Windsor continued.
"He is attending because he has been invited; he is in no way representing the King or undertaking duties on behalf of the institution, and yes, the way he conducts himself, what he says and how he presents himself will inevitably be observed and noted."
Royals hope Harry will 'conduct himself accordingly'
"When it comes to the Royal Family, and Queen Elizabeth II set the tone beautifully, discretion, respect and an awareness of the occasion and its significance are all essential."
She also expressed hope 'that Harry will understand this and conduct himself accordingly'.
"He is, after all, fully aware of the protocol and expectations," she went on. "It was drummed into him from the time he could walk. Again, it is an invitation to attend, not a return to royal duties, and that distinction is an important one."
According to WellChild, Harry will attend the ceremony as its patron, where he is expected to meet award winners and their families and celebrate the achievements of the children, young people, families and professionals recognised by the charity.
In a statement ahead of the event, Harry praised the 'incredible resilience' of the WellChild community, saying he was looking forward to 'celebrating the extraordinary achievements' of those being recognised.
What about Harry and Meghan's security row?
And there is another reason Harry's return to the UK has attracted scrutiny, however.
The Sussexes have long been vocal about their concerns over security, with Harry having previously pursued legal action over the arrangements for his police protection when in Britain.
Windsor believes the issue could continue to be a source of tension, telling us: "The way Harry and Meghan have continued to campaign for publicly funded security, and their insistence on this shows that there is already an issue that they are not about to let slide."
She also raised concerns about the situation surrounding their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, following reports that the children were removed from their new school shortly after starting due to security concerns.
"Yes, there is traffic everywhere..." Windsor admitted before adding: "The Wales children have attended school for years without there being a fuss or their parents making their protection a public campaign - and one of those children is first in line to becoming King."
And their kids?
"I think it raises questions not only about the way in which their children are being brought up, but it looks as if we will continue to see contention and disagreements, the same sort of arguments just repackaged in different ways."
She went on to say: "They should focus more on the well-being of their children - they have already been uprooted from the only life they knew to now being dragged away from their new school within days - they must feel confused and disoriented beyond belief."
Despite the renewed clarity over their status, Harry's public appearances mean there is likely to be continued interest in exactly how he navigates his role.
He remains the Duke of Sussex, a son of the King and fifth in line to the throne, while his work with organisations including WellChild and the Invictus Games continues independently of the Royal Family.
So, as Harry prepares to take to the stage at the WellChild Awards, attention is likely to fall not only on the charity and the families being celebrated, but on how the Duke conducts himself in his new chapter back in the UK.
Topics: Prince Harry, Royal Family, UK News, King Charles III, Meghan Markle
Rhianna Benson