Prince Harry has made a surprise appearance at a charity event after returning to the UK to unveil a statue of Princess Diana.

The Duke of Sussex was out and about after five days of self-isolation and spent time meeting award winners from WellChild, a charity for which he is a patron.

It came the day before he is set to join his brother Prince William at the statue unveiling in honour of their mother at Kensington Palace.

Harry hasn’t been back in the UK since the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral, where he received a frosty reception from some royals.

He’s since become a father for the second time after wife Meghan gave birth to Lilibet Diana earlier this month.

The duke visited Kew Gardens in west London on Wednesday for the private garden party.

He was joined by celebrities including Ed Sheeran, Ronnie Wood, Amanda Holden, AJ Pritchard and Abbie Quinnen.

WellChild, which cares for seriously ill children and young people, said the event, featured a socially distanced afternoon tea and took place on the gardens’ Sir Joseph Banks Lawn.

The duke, dressed casually in a light blue jumper and dark trousers, met each winner in turn to present them with their awards, and spoke to them about how the last 18 months has been for them and their families.

Harry said: ‘Since becoming patron of WellChild in 2007, this organisation and the people within it have held an extraordinarily special place in my heart.

‘I wasn’t a father at the time, and yet the stories of these children and parents transcended that. I didn’t need to be a dad to feel the impact of this invaluable work.

‘Now as a father of two, I feel all the more connected, inspired and in awe of the resilience of these families, who power through indescribable challenges with the support of WellChild.’

Harry retained his patronage of the charity despite his move to the US as he holds it in a private capacity and it was not part of his royal duties.

He’s ensured he made time to fulfil his duties, despite now living in California and in December he held a special video call with past winners of the awards.

In a statement released by WellChild after the duke’s attendance at the event, Harry added: ‘The health of our children, of all of us, could not have been more on the forefront of our minds during the past year.

‘And, throughout this time, the WellChild community has set an example for how to show up and act with compassion for each other.

‘I could not be prouder to be here, to meet this year’s WellChild award winners, to thank the nurses and doctors for all they do, and to celebrate these amazing families.’

Harry has called a truce with brother William for the statue unveiling on what would have been Diana’s 60th birthday.

The brothers jointly commissioned the statue of their mother in 2017 – the 20th anniversary year of her death in a car crash.

They will walk into the service together but give separate speeches at the event which will also be attended by Diana’s close family, the statue committee and others involved in the process of erecting it in the palace’s Sunken Garden.

Harry has been staying at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor since flying back into the UK. He was able to leave self isolation on day five, rather than the usual day 10, after testing negative for Covid.

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