I know the Queen is looking down on us, happy we’re together, Harry says as he reveals Meghan is ‘upset not to be in UK’

PRINCE Harry tonight paid tribute to the Queen a year after her death – saying his grandmother was “looking down on us, happy to be together”.

The Duke of Sussex, 38, flew into London for the WellChild Awards solo – revealing his wife Meghan was “very upset” he wasn’t with him.

Prince Harry paid tribute to the Queen a year after her deathCredit: Hello!

He attended the WellChild AwardsCredit: Greetings!

Harry with the Queen before her death Credit: AFP or licensors

Harry has told a family that his wife Meghan Markle is “very upset that she couldn’t be here” – ahead of a “busy week” for the couple, who will attend the Invictus Games in Dusseldorf next week.

But while he reportedly has no plans to meet his family – including father King Charles or brother Prince William – the fifth in line to the throne paid tribute to the Queen, a year after her death.

Speaking at the awards, Harry said: “As you know I was unable to attend the awards last year because my grandmother passed away.

“As you also probably know, she would be the first person to insist that I come be with you all instead of going to her.

“And that’s exactly why I know exactly one year that she’s looking down on us tonight, happy to be together – continuing to portray such an amazing community.”

Prince Harry rushed to Scotland last year to be with his grandmother, but tragically missed the chance to say goodbye to the 96-year-old.

Since her death, Harry has continued to live in the US with wife Meghan Markle and their children Archie, 4, and Lilibet, 2 – returning to the UK only a few times.

The Duke has already returned to his High Court battle, along with his father’s coronation on May 6 this year.

The coronation was a quick visit, with Harry traveling just hours after his father was crowned king.

His trip to the UK this week is expected to be just as short, with the prince soon to head to Dusseldorf, Germany for the start of the Invictus Games on Saturday.

Prince Harry returned to London alone, with his children Archie and Lilibet, who remained in the US.

But he gave a sweet nod to his children as he spoke to fellow parents at the event, saying he was “very aware of the joys and challenges of parenthood”.

He has been a patron of the not-for-profit charity for 15 years and spent an hour with the charity’s winners and their families at The Hurlingham Club this evening.

The WellChild Awards come just days before the Duke’s 39th birthday on September 15.

Prince William is understood to have been out of touch with the Duke of Sussex for months and today visited Bournemouth – 100 miles away – on royal duties.

William appeared to be in good spirits at the engagement – he even got a cheeky kiss from football legend Paul Gascoigne.

King Charles is currently enjoying a private holiday in the Scottish Highlands – and was seen driving near Balmoral today.

Harry, who is making his first appearance in the UK since June, looked relaxed as he sat with seriously ill children and their families during a pre-ceremony reception at The Hurlingham Club in south-west London on Thursday.

He talked to them about their interests and hobbies and had several interactions with their companion balloons, which were shaped like different animals.

It was the first time the royal family had been seen in the UK since his high-profile High Court legal case against Mirror Group Newspapers earlier this year.

The event was organized on the eve of the first anniversary of the death of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.

Harry, a patron of WellChild for 15 years, sat in a row with each young winner before speaking to the adult winners at a reception that lasted just under an hour.

The Duke punched two boys receiving Inspirational Young Person awards – George Hall, 11, from Skipton, North Yorkshire, and Blake McCaughey, 15, from Tandragee, County Armagh.

Blake and his family presented Harry with a green Belfast Giants ice hockey shirt, personalized with the Duke’s name on the back.

The pair then discussed Blake’s tiger balloon and Harry asked him “Do you want to take this with you?” to which the teenager shook his head.

Another award winner, seven-year-old Poppy Higham from Runcorn, danced to music by Ed Sheeran in front of Harry, which he greeted with warm applause.

The Duke then played with the giraffe balloon and showed Poppy its rotating head, prompting the youngster to pick it up and play with it.

The awards were presented by Big Breakfast star Gaby Roslin – with guests Emma Willis, Dick and Dom, James Cracknell, Charlotte Hawkins and Alex Scott making appearances.

But while Harry will be in London, the prince is not expected to spend time with his own British family – with a palace insider claiming his dad Charles has “no diary time” to see his son.

It also seems unlikely that Harry and his brother will reunite anytime soon, according to the same source.

Harry’s visit to the UK coincides with the anniversary of the Queen’s death one year ago tomorrow – with Her Majesty dying “peacefully” on September 8 last year.

King Charles and Queen Camilla are expected to mark a touching anniversary at Balmoral with family.

Harry is not expected to travel to Scotland for a quiet family reunion.

After tonight’s awards ceremony, Harry will travel to Dusseldorf for the Invictus Games.

The visit is Harry’s first time back in the UK since the coronation of his father, King Charles – but Meghan Markle is not expected to join him on the trip to the UK.

Her role at the Invictus Games was also called into question as she was removed from the schedule.

Harry is not expected to bring his children Archie, 4, and Lilibet, 1, on the trip to London.

It’s been a busy few weeks for Prince Harry, with the Duke pictured with Meghan on the first night of Beyonce’s tour this week.

But pictures showed the former royal looking particularly glum in their private lodge, while his wife looked in good spirits.

Harry has also been seen alone at events – the father-of-two was full of excitement as he watched Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami win over Los Angeles FC.

Harry was described as a “giddy schoolboy” as he watched Messi’s masterclass, although Meghan was not with him.

It comes a week after Harry’s first solo series on Netflix failed to make the top ten.

During the series, the Duke launched a new attack, saying he had “no support structure” to help him cope with the sudden death of his mother at the age of 12.

But Heart of Invictus – the latest series to emerge from the pair’s £80million deal with the streaming giant – has failed to take off since its release.

The six-part series, which tells the inspiring stories of war-wounded soldiers competing at the 2022 Invictus Games, is Harry’s first major solo documentary project.