Prince Harry’s return to Britain next month will take place against a poignant backdrop linked to his late mother, Princess Diana.

In a news release issued on Sunday, it was revealed that the prince will travel to London to attend a special 10th anniversary celebration service at St Paul’s Cathedral on May 8 for his war veterans sports initiative, the Invictus Games.

“This Service of Thanksgiving,” the release said, “is reflecting on 10 years since the inaugural Invictus Games London 2014, marking a decade of changing lives and saving lives through sport.”

The location of the service holds particularly personal associations for Harry, as it was at St Paul’s Cathedral over four decades ago that his parents, King Charles III and Princess Diana were married, on July 29, 1981.

Harry has spoken often about his mother and the people, places and causes that inspire her memory following her death in 1997 from injuries sustained in a Paris car crash when he was just 12 years old.

In his 2023 memoir, Spare, the prince provided a raw portrait of the grief he suffered as a result of her loss and how it has manifested at stages throughout his life.

In the book, he revealed how certain spaces of significance are tied to the memory of his mother. He told readers that when attending the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011, he was confronted with the memory it was the same church that hosted their mother’s funeral.

The anniversary service on May 8 will include among its congregation representatives from the nations which compete in the games, which are in part made up of the wounded, sick or injured armed forces personnel it aims to help.

In addition to a reading from Harry, the service news release states that Homeland actor Damian Lewis will perform a special recital of the Invictus poem by William Henley, which inspired name of the games. Henley’s memorial bust is situated within the crypt of St Paul’s Cathedral.

This will be the first time Harry has attended an event at the cathedral since 2022, where he was a guest at the service of Thanksgiving celebrating the Platinum Jubilee of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.

On this occasion both Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle attended, though they received a mixed reception from the waiting crowds of royal fans following the couple’s split from the monarchy and subsequent criticisms of royal family members in the media.

The announcement of Harry’s London visit on Sunday came at the same time reports revealed that the prince and Meghan will also visit Nigeria next month. Though plans for the visit have not been released, it is understood that they will also be linked to the Invictus Games event and community.

James Crawford-Smith is Newsweek’s royal reporter, based in London. You can find him on X (formerly Twitter) at @jrcrawfordsmith and read his stories on Newsweek’s The Royals Facebook page.

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