Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Rule Out Attending Diana Award

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will not attend a reported Diana Award event in London on September 18, despite earlier reports suggesting Harry was expected to appear and Meghan could join him.

A spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex denied that the couple were scheduled to attend a gathering at Raffles London at The OWO.

“Despite the Daily Mail’s reporting to the contrary, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are not scheduled to attend a Diana Award event at Raffles Hotel, OWO London, on September 18,” the spokesperson said.

The statement also took aim at the original report, adding: “Facts matter. Accuracy matters. Apparently, neither made the guest list for this particular story.”

Photo – Instagram/@DukeandDuchessofSussex

The clarification follows reports that had linked Harry to the September dinner. The possibility of his attendance attracted attention because the Diana Award is closely associated with his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, and remains an organisation with links to both Harry and his brother, Prince William.

The Diana Award was established in memory of Diana and recognises young people for their sustained social action. Its recipients are aged between 16 and 24 and are recognised for work addressing issues affecting their communities.

Harry has continued to support the organisation in recent years. In September 2025, he took part in a Diana Award youth discussion in London, where young people spoke about social action, mental health and resilience.

William has also maintained his involvement with the charity. Earlier this year, the Prince of Wales met Diana Award recipients and young people involved in social action during SXSW London.

However, the reported September gathering should not be confused with the organisation’s main 2026 Diana Award ceremony. The charity has announced that this year’s recipients will be recognised through a virtual ceremony premiering on November 4.

Photo – Instagram/@DukeandDuchessofSussex

The Diana Award has not publicly confirmed the reported September 18 event as an official awards ceremony. This makes the Sussexes’ spokesperson’s clarification particularly relevant, given the earlier suggestion that Harry’s attendance had been arranged.

Harry’s absence from the reported event does not indicate that he has ended his relationship with the charity. His previous involvement demonstrates that he continues to support its work, even though he and William have generally carried out their engagements separately.

The development comes as Harry and Meghan continue to attract attention whenever they return to the UK. Harry is also expected to attend the WellChild Awards this month, although Meghan’s attendance has not been confirmed.

For now, however, there will be no joint Sussex appearance at the reported Diana Award gathering. According to their spokesperson, neither Harry nor Meghan is scheduled to attend the September 18 event.