Prince Harry’s last round of royal duties in the UK Is an ’emotional time,’ friend tells Vanity Fair

Prince Harry’s last round of royal engagements in the United Kingdom Is an ’emotional time’ and ‘very hard for the loving and loyal royal,’ a friend has claimed. 

The Duke of Sussex, 35, left wife Meghan Markle, 38, and their nine-month-old son Archie in Canada as he embarked on a final round of official duties last week.

‘It’s an emotional time for him in many ways,’ one of the Prince’s oldest friends told Vanity Fair. ‘I think in many ways it’s bittersweet.’

‘He’s always wanted to have a regular life and to get away from the spotlight, and that’s what he’s doing, but it basically means walking away from his family. He continued: ‘Harry’s a loving loyal guy so that will be very hard for him.’

Prince Harry along with Jon Bon Jovi and members of the Invictus Games Choir recreates the iconic Beatles ‘Abbey Road’ album cover photograph on the zebra crossing outside the Abbey Road Studios where the Invictus Games Choir are recording a special single in aid of the Invictus Games Foundation on February 28, 2020 in London

Launching an eco-friendly travel company in Edinburgh, the senior royal made headlines when he asked delegates ‘just to call him Harry’ on Thursday.

Former Labour advisor Ayesha Hazarika told crowds at the sustainable travel event in the Scottish capital: ‘He’s made it clear that we are all just to call him Harry. So ladies and gentlemen, please give a big, warm, Scottish welcome to Harry.’ 

The Duke of Sussex also performed a duet with Jon Bon Jovi at Abbey Road Studios for a new charity single before recreating the Beatles’ iconic zebra crossing photo outside.

He flew to Britain on a commercial flight and arrived in Edinburgh on an eco-friendly LNER train from, with taxpayer-funded Scotland Yard bodyguards.

Meghan Markle is not expected to bring son Archie with her when she joins Prince Harry in Britain. Pictured, the Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan, holding their son Archie during a visit to the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation in Cape Town, South Africa, on 25 September 2019

Prince Harry will be joined by Meghan this week for five further official appearances – including the Endeavour Fund Awards on March 5 and the Mountbatten Music Festival at the Royal Albert Hall two days later.

They will also attend the Commonwealth Day Service on March 9th – which will mark the couple’s last official engagement before they stand down at the end of the month.  

However, Meghan Markle is not expected to bring son Archie with her when she joins Prince Harry in Britain.

The Queen, 93, and Prince Philip, 98, are said to be ‘very sad’ by the news, having seen so little of Archie since his birth, according to the Sunday Times.

It is believed that Archie, who has yet to set foot on UK soil this year, will remain with the Sussexes’ nanny, and with Meghan’s friend Jessica Mulroney.

Archie’s last official sighting was in a photograph with his father the Duke of Sussex, posted to the Sussex Royal Instagram account last New Year’s Eve.