Prince Harry was in the UK for four days last week, and he was able to get a lot done and see a lot of people, including his father, but before heading back to the U.S., he hopped on an overnight train and made his way to Ukraine to visit with injured soldiers.
Harry is a former military man himself, he entered the British Royal Army in 2005 and served for ten years, overlapping with his brother Prince William in 2009, with the two sharing a cottage ten minutes from the Royal Air Force base.
Now that there’s talk of Harry rejoining the Royal Family, with his spokesperson referring to it as being part of a “functioning wider family again,” this may be seen as one of the many steps to getting there.
We heard from Ian Pelham Turner, who is based in London, who sent us a message over WhatsApp, excitedly saying: “Prince Harry has made a surprise visit to Ukraine offering his support to injured soldiers.”
Mr. Pelham Turner explained to Express US why this is a big deal: “This is a growing charm offensive by Harry to redefine his values, which could add significant benefits to the Royal Family.”
This follows Harry’s visit to the UK, which saw the Duke at the WellChild Awards, BBC’s Children in Need, pulling up to Clarence House to visit with King Charles, and a check-in with Tessy Ojo, CEO of the Diana Award, which helps keep the late Princess Diana’s legacy alive.
It sounds like a lot in a short amount of time, but it doesn’t really come across as a whirlwind, like Harry’s visit last year; it seems like someone who is focused and able to manage his priorities, with reconciling with his father and rejoining the Royal Family at the top of the list.
Pelham Turner added, “Everybody’s cheering him, and I think, there’s a smile on his face, for once, that hasn’t been there – while in Britain – for quite a considerable amount of time.”
The former royal photographer, who spent time at the Palace during Princess Diana’s time, expanded on what he meant by that and what he was seeing.
He said: You know, even how he’s performing in front of the cameras, that he’s never really been that comfortable with, he’s certainly, I’d say, matured a lot in the past year.
“You can see a different means of presenting himself now, whereas before, he always blamed the media for the death of his mother.”
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Harry is back stateside with his wife, Meghan Markle, and their two children, Prince Archie, 6, and Princess, Lilibet, 4, and what perfect timing with today being the Duke’s birthday.
Harry turns 41 on Monday, and that may be what Pelham Turner is seeing, that Harry is growing into himself.
There’s a learning curve to life, especially when you’re a royal, and it seems like Harry is still figuring things out and he’s almost there, according to the expert.
“I think things are changing, but the things to look at are timelines.”