Harry and Meghan: Date set for Sussexes' first UK appearance since 'Megxit' bombshell
The clock is counting down to Harry and Meghan's final few public engagements before they step back from royal life.
Thursday 27 February 2020 17:02, UK
The Duchess of Sussex will return to the UK for the first time in almost two months for one of her final engagements as a senior royal.
Meghan will join Harry at an event in London on 5 March to celebrate the achievements of wounded service personnel, which will be their first public appearance together since 7 January.
They were last sighted as a couple at Canada House in the capital to thank the nation for hosting them during their festive break. Their bombshell announcement that they would step back from royal life came the next day.
Since then the duchess has been back in Canada to be with son Archie, and Harry only returned to the UK earlier this week for a solo public appointment in Edinburgh.
He raised eyebrows by asking to be addressed simply as Harry, shrugging off his title after reports that the Queen would not allow him and Meghan to use their Sussex Royal brand moving forward.
The couple are aiming to be financially independent once their lives as working royals ends on 31 March.
The date was announced in an official royal statement following talks between Harry, the Queen, the Prince of Wales, and the Duke of Cambridge at Sandringham.
The statement also confirmed that Harry and Meghan no longer be known as HRH.
It is expected that the couple will spend the majority of their time in Canada once 'Megxit' officially comes to pass, with the clock now counting down to their final few royal outings.
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The event on 5 March is the annual Endeavour Fund Awards at Mansion House, which will honour sick and injured military who have taken part in sporting and adventure challenges over the past year.
Four gongs will be given out on the night: the recognising achievement award, the celebrating excellence award, the community impact award, and the Henry Worsley award.
Harry and Megan seem set to make just a handful of royal appearances between them after 5 March.
The day after the Endeavour Fund Awards, Harry will join Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton at the official opening of the Silverstone Experience - a museum about British motor racing.
Harry and Meghan will then attend the Mountbatten Festival of Music at the Royal Albert Hall on March 7, and the following day the duchess will mark International Women's Day.
Their last official appearance alongside other senior royals is likely to be on 9 March, when the duke and duchess will attend the traditional Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey.
It is a major event in the Queen's calendar and is normally attended by the Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their children.