Prince Harry grins on charity trip as diary battle with William rages on

Prince Harry has arrived in Nottingham on the second day of his trip to the UK to visit the Community Recording Studio – just minutes after Prince William visited a youth project in London

A grinning Prince Harry has kicked off the second day of his UK trip with a trip to Nottingham – in a diary clash with Prince William.

The Duke of Sussex arrived in the city to visit the Community Recording Studio just over an after Willliam started an engagement at youth project in South London.

Harry’s visit will see him show his support for BBC Children in Need and revisit the recording studio in Nottingham, where he appears set to make an announcement of a substantial donation to the broadcaster’s charity to help support its work tackling violence affecting young people. As he arrived in a grey jacket he was cheered by crowds and laughed as one onlooker asked if he had brought the sun with him.

Harry last visited the CRS to mark World Mental Health Day in October 2019, just two months before he and Meghan announced they were stepping down as senior working royals and moving to North America.

He is planning to hold a private briefing with Children in Need, the Police and Crime Commission, the CRS and community outreach group Epic Partners in Nottingham, stage informal catch-ups with some of the young people he met before, and watch performances from CRS artists and make a short speech.

The Duke is hoping to bring together key stakeholders, influencers and potential funders to shine a light on the work of grassroots organisations such as CRS and Epic Partners and the sports apprenticeship body Coach Core.

The visit is happening just after the Prince of Wales visited Spiral Skills, which has received funding from the prince’s homelessness initiative Homewards to move into a new hub for young people at The Oasis Village, Tulse Hill.

The youth organisation was founded in 2015 and works with local schools, youth organisations and authorities to provide early intervention, support, employability skills and access to employment and services for 14 to 25-year-olds, Kensington Palace said.

The prince visited the organisation at its new space to see how it offers support for those who need it, before attending a workshop with Young Creators UK, a creative agency run and owned by underrepresented young people which receives referrals from Spiral Skills.

William was joined by Homewards advocate and former England midfielder Fara Williams to hear about how the organisation has helped people to gain confidence and learn new skills.

Harry’s trip to Nottingham comes after he paid tribute to the seriously ill children and young people recognised by the charity WellChild as a “beacon of hope and inspiration”.

Harry ended a night of celebration last night by telling the awards winners to “keep fighting. Keep smiling” as the charity honoured their efforts to succeed and thrive despite life-threatening conditions.

During the reception with the winners ahead of the presentations, Harry joked and laughed with the seriously ill youngsters and chatted to Declan Bitmead, 17 – winner of the inspirational young person 15-18 years award – and was told he had a younger when the royal asked about siblings.

“Does he drive you mad?” asked the duke, and Declan replied “no, we get on fine” – and Harry quipped with a smile “you know what – siblings”.

When told the 17-year-old, from Oxted in Surrey, and his brother went to the same school, the duke said “you’re at the same school, that sometimes makes it more challenging”.

While Harry is expected to potentially have a long overdue reunion with his father, King Charles, during his rare trip to UK shores, it is extremely unlikely that the Duke of Sussex will see his estranged brother, William.

Despite an olive branch being extended between the Sussex camp and the Firm earlier this year when senior aides to both Harry and Charles met in London, William is said to have firmly declined any potential reunion with his brother after years of public jabs between the two princes.

However, when it comes to Harry and Charles, sources have said there is a determination on both sides to make a meeting happen, with Wednesday being touted as a potential date.

Harry, who previously admitted he wanted reconciliation with his family, is said to be ready to ‘drop everything’ to attend a meeting. A source said: “As Harry has stated before, he’d love to see his family and be reconciled.”

However, both Buckingham Palace and spokespeople for Harry have refused to be drawn on when or whether a meeting will take place.