Prince Harry is back on the public-event circuit in Britain, stepping out without Meghan Markle for the biggest engagement of his first day of public appearances since the family moved back to the U.K.
The Duke of Sussex arrived at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich on September 17th for the inaugural Invictus Spirit Gala Dinner and Awards. The appearance came weeks after Harry, Meghan and their children returned to Britain in late August following six years based in California, according to Page Six.
Harry wore black tie with his military medals and the insignia of the Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, an honor Queen Elizabeth II bestowed on him in 2015. Meghan did not attend the gala and has yet to make a public appearance since the family’s move back to Britain.
The evening put Harry firmly back in familiar territory. He founded the Invictus Games in 2014, and the new gala was created to recognize people whose resilience, service and support have shaped the international Invictus community. The Foundation said this year’s event would honor 14 nominees across six award categories while raising money for its year-round programs.
Harry’s First Day Back in Public Included Two London Appearances
Harry posed for photographers and took selfies with attendees outside the Old Royal Naval College before heading into the gala. Speaking to PEOPLE at the event, he summed up his return simply: “It’s good to be back on British soil.”
Earlier on September 17th, he attended an event hosted by Save the Children, Imperial College London and Archewell Philanthropies focused on improving long-term care for children who suffer life-changing blast injuries in conflicts.
Harry had also been photographed in Britain before September 17th, although not at a formal public engagement. On September 4th, he spent much of the day at Tower Bridge Studios in London working on an undisclosed project and was later pictured signing the studio’s celebrity wall.
The Invictus gala marked the first edition of the new awards event. The Invictus Games Foundation originally opened nominations earlier this year to recognize resilience, community leadership, international contributions and philanthropic support connected to wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans. Harry, the Foundation’s founding patron, also served on the judging panel alongside representatives from the organization and presenting partner ATCO.
Meghan Has Yet to Make a Public Appearance Since the Move
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Meghan’s absence from the gala continued a noticeably quieter start to the family’s latest chapter in Britain. She has not attended a public event since returning, while sources close to the couple have said their immediate priority has been getting Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, settled into life and school in the U.K., People reported.
However, on September 13th, Meghan shared a 35-second Instagram video offering a glimpse of the family’s new routine in the English countryside. The reel included Harry, Archie and Lilibet outdoors with the family’s dogs, along with scenes of the children riding a bike, fishing and splashing through the rain.
The family arrived in Britain on August 26th and is establishing a private, non-royal residence in the U.K. for an extended stay while maintaining its home in Montecito, California. The couple is not returning to working royal duties.
The Gala Comes Ahead of the Invictus Games’ U.K. Return
Harry’s renewed public Invictus work comes less than a year before the Games return to the country where they began. The Invictus Games Birmingham 2027 are scheduled for July 10th through July 17th and are expected to bring together 550 wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans from 25 nations across 12 adaptive sports.
Uganda briefly withdrew from the 2027 Games after military chief Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba said the country would not take part in an event it believed lacked King Charles’ approval.
Uganda reversed that decision days later after Kainerugaba spoke with Sir Clive Alderton, the King’s principal private secretary. According to the Uganda People’s Defence Force, Alderton clarified that Charles had no objection to Uganda’s participation and encouraged the country to continue preparing for Birmingham.