Did Prince Harry try to upstage his family by making royal-style visit to charity that helps bereaved children of military parents in London – as brother Prince William and father King Charles carried out official visits elsewhere?

Prince Harry made a surprise visit to a charity event in London today – as his father King Charles and brother Prince William undertook official royal visits elsewhere. 

The Duke of Sussex, 39, was pictured chatting and playing games with bereaved military children as he made an unexpected visit to Scotty’s Little Soldiers in London. 

Harry – who is no longer a working royal after he left the role in 2020 and moved to America with Meghan – spent the afternoon taking part in games and speaking to youngsters. 

Dressed in a casual navy polo top, loafers and a pair of blue jeans, the father-of-two said it was an ‘honour’ to meet the many families the charity supports during the visit, which looked like a royal visit, despite Harry stepping away from The Firm several year ago.

Around 50 children and young people, aged between six and 22, who have experienced the death of a military parent were at the event. 

At one point the Duke was snapped using a straw to transport Smarties as quickly as possible during a task

Harry – a non-working royal – was snapped interacting with children and young adults from the charity on an unofficial visit 

Harry also spent time talking to nine members from Scotty’s Council, a group of young people who represent the charity’s other members, who discussed their experiences of growing up without a parent.

The Duke said: ‘It was an honour to meet so many of the wonderful families Scotty’s Little Soldiers supports.

‘I have long believed in the mission of this charity, and I truly believe the work they do to foster community and create space for young people to connect, grieve, but also have fun together is life-changing.

‘I am a huge supporter of their work, and very proud to be their first global ambassador.’

This comes as Prince William viewed for the first time a plot of land in Cornwall which he hopes will change the face of the homeless crisis in the UK.

The heir, who took over the £1.2 billion Duchy of Cornwall estate when his father became King and made him Prince of Wales, is in the process of building its first ever housing project to help address homelessness in Nansledan. 

Meanwhile, Harry’s father King Charles – who is currently undergoing treatment for cancer – met military staff and their families at a training base for the Army’s Royal Engineers in Surrey. 

His wife, Queen Camilla was also on an official engagement, posing for photographs with guests and mini ponies as she hosted a reception at Buckingham Palace to mark the 90th anniversary of Brooke, a charity dedicated to improving the lives of working horses, donkeys, and mules.

Harry looked in high spirits as he posed for selfies with people from the event 

The former senior royal was snapped listening to children and young adults speak about their experiences 

Harry posed for pictures with those at the event as he made a surprise visit to the charity in London today

The Duke dropped by the charity and play games with children at Scotty’s Little Soldiers, a patron which he was been involved with since 2017.

Elsewhere Prince William travelled to Cornwall today to meet representatives from local organisations who are working to promote safety in the sea

Harry is back in the UK for an Invictus event and had hoped to meet his estranged father the King during his trip, which follows a previous quick visit in February after Charles’s cancer diagnosis.

But Harry’s spokesman said yesterday: ‘In response to the many inquiries and continued speculation on whether or not The Duke will meet with his father while in the UK this week, it unfortunately will not be possible due to His Majesty’s full programme.

‘The Duke of course is understanding of his father’s diary of commitments and various other priorities and hopes to see him soon.’

Harry’s event yesterday was just three miles away from where Charles was at Clarence House at the Honourable Artillery Company.

But the Duke dropped by the charity and play games with children at Scotty’s Little Soldiers, a patron which he was been involved with since 2017. 

At one point the Duke was snapped using a straw to transport Smarties as quickly as possible during a task.

The charity – for which the duke became a global ambassador in November – was one of seven which had been nominated by Harry and Meghan to benefit from donations marking the couple’s wedding ceremony in 2018.

In 2022, Harry even recorded a special video message dressed as Spider-Man for its children’s Christmas party.

During the video message the ex-senior royal said: ‘Christmas is a time where we missed our loved ones really really badly.

‘And that’s okay but at the same time it can be possible to feel guilty for having fun without our parents. But I’m here to assure you that our parents always want us to have fun.’ 

A young girl presents the Duke with something at the event in London today

The charity – for which the duke became a global ambassador in November – was one of seven which had been nominated by Harry and Meghan to benefit from donations marking the couple’s wedding ceremony in 2018

King Charles III during a visit to Gibraltar Barracks in Minley, Hampshire, this afternoon as his son Prince Harry remained in London 

The Duke laughs at one of the girls trying to get a piece of chocolate off her face 

Harry applauds people at the event who are taking part in games and fun activities 

Just before Remembrance Day last year, he also wrote a letter to the children at the charity and said that ‘grief is nothing to be ashamed of.’

He wrote: ‘Growing up, having lost a parent, is immensely difficult. But being part of a strong and resilient community like Scotty’s can really help.

‘Grief is nothing to be ashamed of; it’s normal to feel sadness from loss. But don’t forget that you also deserve to feel happiness – your parent would want that, trust me.’ 

Georgia Paterson, 16, said it was ‘amazing’ to speak to Harry about the experience of losing a parent growing up.

She said: ‘Prince Harry was the best person to share that experience with because he’s been through it and understands better than anyone.

‘It was really moving to see how vulnerable he was with us, which encouraged us to open up as well.’

Georgia added: ‘It felt really connecting because when your parent served, they served for the country, and one of the most important things for the country is the royal family.

‘Speaking with someone who is part of that made me feel more connected to my Dad. It was amazing to be connected to him in that moment.’

Prince William, the Duke of Cornwall, holds a volleyball on his visit to Cornwall today in an official visit as a senior royal

Nikki Scott, who founded the charity in 2010 following the death of her husband during a tour in Afghanistan, said: ‘It was amazing to see all the smiles in the room when Prince Harry walked through the door.

‘The Duke of Sussex has supported Scotty’s for a long time, which means a lot to our members because they know he understands what it’s like to experience the death of a parent and the challenges they face.

‘It’s important to our members to maintain their connection to the military community, which Prince Harry is also passionate about.

‘Events like these are so valuable to our members because it enables them to develop friendships with others in a similar situation, as well as have lots of fun.’

Scotty’s Little Soldiers currently supports more than 670 bereaved military children and young people up to the age of 25, offering one-to-one bereavement support, guidance to parents and carers, fun activities such as holidays and group events, and learning assistance.