Prince Harry has returned to the very city where he and Meghan Markle carried out their first joint royal engagement eight years ago, sparking speculation that he still hopes to one day bring his family back to Britain.

The Duke of Sussex arrived in the UK on Monday, though it remains unclear whether he will be invited to see King Charles. The pair have not met face-to-face in 19 months.

Today, Harry travelled to Nottingham, the same location where he and Meghan made their debut appearance as a couple in 2017, shortly after announcing their engagement. While Meghan has remained in California with their two children, Harry marked his visit by announcing a personal donation to Children in Need.

His appearance follows comments from one of his friends, who told The Sunday Times that Harry “has not given up hope on bringing his family back to the UK.” The remark stands in contrast with Harry’s own words earlier this year, when he admitted in an interview with the BBC: “I can’t see a world in which I would be bringing my wife and children back to the UK at this point.”

Royal commentator Phil Dampier reflected on the significance of Harry’s return, telling The Sun: “It brings back memories of happier times when we thought they were going to be royal superstars. It will be fascinating to see how he is received and comes into contact with the public.”

For now, it is uncertain whether Harry will reunite with the King, who is expected to return to London from Balmoral later this week. There is also speculation about whether he might stay in the UK to attend the funeral of the Duchess of Kent next week.

Harry is in the country for a four-day visit focused on his charitable work. In addition to Nottingham, he will attend events in London connected to the Invictus Foundation and the Diana Award. This marks his longest stay in Britain since the Queen’s funeral in 2022.

However, relations with his brother, Prince William, remain strained. Sources have also indicated that there are no plans for Harry to meet the Princess of Wales during his trip.