Away from the cameras and with little advance notice, Prince Harry carried out a series of significant engagements in the United States before heading back to the United Kingdom.
One meeting that did not take place during his Washington visit, however, was with Donald Trump.
The 41-year-old Duke of Sussex and his wife, Meghan Markle, are preparing to move their family back to the UK for an extended stay beginning this month.
The timing comes as their children reach an important new chapter: Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, are set to begin school in Britain in September.
But as news of the family’s return made headlines around the world, Harry was quietly making his way through Washington, DC, for four carefully planned visits.
His first stop was Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, widely regarded as the United States’ leading military hospital.
There, he met with service members, nurses and doctors, led a focused roundtable with wounded veterans, and examined the cutting-edge technologies transforming recovery for injured troops.
Harry also learned more about Walter Reed’s use of sports medicine to support service members coping with catastrophic injuries and limb loss, including treatments that may help some return to active duty.
Harry established the Invictus Games in 2014, a worldwide adaptive sports stage dedicated to injured, ill and wounded military personnel.
Under the radar and out of the spotlight, Prince Harry quietly executed a series of meaningful engagements in the United States prior to his return back home to the United Kingdom
While there, he spent time with service members, nurses and doctors, hosted a focused roundtable discussion with wounded veterans, and delved into the groundbreaking technologies reshaping how wounded troops heal and rebuild
Harry participated in a public wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery
After leaving Walter Reed, Harry made his way to Arlington National Cemetery to honor America’s fallen heroes.
There, he observed the traditional Changing of the Guard before placing a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier – a monument established in 1921 to memorialize unidentified US service members who lost their lives in conflict.
Afterwards, he met with several Gold Star families and visited their graves.
Continuing his secret sweep of the capital, Harry joined a roundtable hosted by military charity The Independence Fund.
He sat down with wounded troops, veterans and campaign advocates to tackle the tough transition to civilian life.
Capping off his whirlwind day, Harry made a final stop at the Washington VA Medical Center.
The royal toured the facility’s Community Living Center to sit down with resident elderly veterans and learn more about their operation.
Harry’s covert pilgrimage to Arlington comes just months after his father, King Charles, and Queen Camilla, made their own visit to the iconic national cemetery during the climax of their American tour late last April.
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The King and Queen officially wrapped up their trip on April 30, bidding farewell to Trump and Melania in the nation’s capital before making the solemn journey to the sacred Virginia grounds.
Harry’s covert pilgrimage to Arlington comes just months after his father, King Charles, and Queen Camilla made their own visit to the iconic national cemetery during the climax of their American tour late last April
After leaving Walter Reed, Harry made his way to Arlington National Cemetery to honor America’s fallen heroes
Meanwhile, Meghan is expected to continue to run her lifestyle brand, As Ever, from their new base – and the Sussexes are keeping their homes in California and Portugal
By March 2020, Harry and Meghan had set up a permanent home in California , officially stepped down as senior royals and stopped using their HRH styles
The King and Queen officially wrapped up their trip on April 30, bidding farewell to President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump in the nation’s capital before making the solemn journey to the sacred Virginia grounds
Their visit was a deliberate nod to the deep–seated military alliance bridging the Special Relationship between the US and the US – a powerful tradition Harry echoed during his own unannounced visit when he, too, stood at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to lay a ceremonial wreath.
Harry’s quiet homage at Arlington unfolded just as the news broke that he and Meghan are packing up for Britain.
The King was tipped off about the family’s relocation on Sunday, August 16, with royal insiders telling People magazine that Charles warmly welcomes the chance to spend meaningful, private time with the Sussexes on their home turf.
In January 2020, the Duke and Duchess announced they intended to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family, still support Elizabeth II, but split their time between the UK and North America.
The late Queen ruled at the famous ‘Sandringham Summit’, which was convened in Norfolk to resolve the crisis, that the couple could not be half in and half out.
By March 2020, Harry and Meghan had set up a permanent home in California, officially stepped down as senior royals and stopped using their HRH styles.
Ahead of their return to the UK, Archie and Lilibet have already been enrolled in British schools with terms typically starting in September.
Meanwhile, Meghan is expected to continue to run her lifestyle brand, As Ever, from their new base – and the Sussexes are keeping their homes in California and Portugal.
There are currently no plans for either Harry or Meghan to resume their roles as working royals, which means they will remain as private ‘financially independent’ people.
