The Duke of Sussex founded the games after his time in the British Army.
Prince Harry has touched down in the United Kingdom to attend the Invictus Games opening ceremony!
On Tuesday, the 39-year-old former senior royal family member — who stepped back from his duties alongside his wife, Meghan Markle, in March 2020 — arrived to celebrate the beginning of the charity event. The games, which Prince Harry founded after his time in the British Army as an air controller -- are held each year in support of sick and wounded service members.
In photos posted online, the Spare author can be seen making his grand entrance into the event and greeting eventgoers before stepping on stage for a panel. While inside, the group took part in the "IGF Conversation: Realising a Global Community" discussion ahead of the kickoff of the games.
While the event has been held in Germany, Australia, Canada and the Netherlands in previous years, this year's festivities -- the 10th of their kind -- just so happen to take place in Harry's home country. 2025's event will be set in Vancouver.
This year, all eyes will be on the second son of the late Princess Diana and King Charles III as he has been living across the pond in the U.S. with Meghan and their two children. While they stepped back several years ago now, recent illnesses in the royal family -- including both Kate Middleton and King Charles receiving cancer diagnoses -- have caused many to wonder if Prince Harry might reconsider his decision to leave.
After news broke that his father was undergoing cancer treatment, ET confirmed that Charles' younger son had rapidly flown to the U.K. to visit with his father, albeit for a brief period of time -- reportedly just a few hours.
On Tuesday, a rep for the Duke of Sussex shared with ET that despite their proximity to each other, Prince Harry would not be visiting his father on this trip due to his packed schedule for the Invictus Games.
A spokesperson for Prince Harry told ET, "In response to the many inquiries and continued speculation on whether or not the duke will meet with his father while in the U.K. this week, it, unfortunately, will not be possible due to His Majesty's full program."
The rep added, "The duke, of course, is understanding of his father's diary of commitments and various other priorities and hopes to see him soon."
It's another case of "so close but so far" with his immediate family in England after Harry and Prince William both attended a memorial event for their mom -- Harry virtually and William in person -- and narrowly avoided each other. The royal rift seems to be worse than ever for the brothers a full year after barely acknowledging each other during their father's coronation.
The ice may be thawing, however, as ET learned back in March that Meghan, 42, and Harry privately reached out to Prince William, 41, and the Princess of Wales, 42, following her cancer diagnosis.
Additionally, in a statement to ET, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said at the time, "We wish health and healing for Kate and the family, and hope they are able to do so privately and in peace."
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