The Duke of Sussex is expected to bring his children, Archie and Lilibet, to visit the grave of Diana, Princess of Wales for the first time during a trip to the United Kingdom next month, according to reports. The visit to Althorp House in Northamptonshire is said to occur days after what would have been Diana's 65th birthday.
Timing of the Visit
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are set to travel from their home in California to the UK in July for celebrations marking the one-year countdown to the Invictus Games, which will be held in Birmingham. The Sun reported that the visit to Althorp House would take place during this trip, providing an opportunity for Archie, aged seven, and Lilibet, aged five, to see their grandmother's final resting place for the first time.
Diana's Legacy and Althorp
Althorp House was Diana's family home from the time of her parents' separation until her marriage to Prince Charles. Following her death at age 36 in a car crash in Paris in August 1997, Diana was interred on a private, tree-lined island in the middle of the ornamental Round Oval lake on the Althorp Estate. The estate has since become a place of pilgrimage for mourners and is managed by Diana's brother, Earl Spencer.
Harry's UK Engagements
Aside from the private family visit, the Duke of Sussex has a schedule of public engagements from July 7 to 11. He is expected to attend functions with WellChild and Scotty's Little Soldiers, charitable organisations he actively supports. These appearances underscore his continued commitment to charitable work despite stepping back from royal duties in 2020.
Security Concerns and Family Visits
Prince Harry has been engaged in a lengthy legal dispute with the Home Office over security provisions for himself and his family while in the UK. His level of protection was altered after he withdrew as a working royal. Safety concerns for his family were previously cited by the duke as a reason for not bringing them to the UK. However, reports suggest that the Sussexes have received reassurances, easing those worries. Sources have clarified that all security matters are decisions for the Home Office and that King Charles played no part in the process, providing no private guarantees.
Family Relations
It has been four years since Archie and Lilibet last saw their grandfather, King Charles, face-to-face during Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022. Harry met with the King last September for the first time in 19 months, as the monarch continues to receive treatment for cancer. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex do not have a permanent UK home after being asked to leave Frogmore Cottage, a gift from the late Queen, in 2023, weeks after the publication of Harry's controversial memoir, Spare.
