Prince Harry makes first public appearance since returning to Britain at Invictus event - as excerpts from his uncle's searing memoir about Diana are published

Prince Harry has been seen in public for the first time since returning to Britain as he arrived for the inaugural Invictus Spirit Awards in London. 

Dressed in black tie and wearing his military medals, the Duke of Sussex posed for photographs and then for selfies, outside the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich where the ceremony is being held. 

His appearance comes just hours after the Daily Mail published the first extract from Earl Spencer's bombshell new memoir, which claims King Charles told him: 'We'll forget her [Diana] soon enough.'

A source close to Harry said while he was 'aware' of his uncle's memoir, he had not read it.

At the awards ceremony this evening, the prince will celebrate the courage and commitment of people in the Invictus community. 

Five prizes will be handed out – including the Resilience, Champion, Community and Movement awards – with a total of 14 individuals and organisations nominated.

Harry was seen posing with former England rugby union player James Haskell, who supported the launch of the Invictus Games, before going into the ceremony. 

A host of famous faces including comedian James Corden, who opened the evening, chart topping singer Jess Glynn, who gave a headline performance and actor Ross Kemp were also in attendance.

Giving a speech at the awards, Harry gave a message to veterans around the world. 

'I want to say this as one soldier to another: your service matters. What you gave in uniform matters,' he said.

Prince Harry has been seen in public for the first time since returning to Britain as he arrived for the inaugural Invictus Spirit Awards in London

The Duke of Sussex greets guests as he arrives at the inaugural Invictus Spirit Awards

He donned a black suit and bow tie and was seen taking a selfie with other attendees outside the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich where the awards are being held

The Duke of Sussex arrives to attend the inaugural Invictus Spirit Awards at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich

'And people far beyond the military community who see in your example what courage, resilience and leadership actually look like.

'People are watching. The teammate who is struggling. The young soldier wondering what life after uniform might look like. The family trying to find its way forward.

'You may no longer wear the uniform, but you still lead. Every time you get back up, reach back for someone else, or turn what happened to you into purpose for others, you are serving again - just differently.'

The event comes as shockwaves were sent around the Royal Family today after the Palace responded to Earl Spencer's book by suggesting grief can 'cloud reason, affect judgement and colour memory'. 

The memoir titled 'Swan Song: Diana, My Sister' describes a devastating row the Earl had with Charles in the days after Diana died. 

In the first extract, which was published on DailyMail.com at 5pm today, he claims that Charles sounded 'giddily elated – like a lottery winner' after Diana's death.

Describing a phone call with the then Prince of Wales following the car crash in 1997, the Earl spoke of how it 'all sounded strangely matter-of-fact'. 

He said he suspected Charles's reaction 'must have been to think more of how this event might free him to marry the woman he loved,' rather than appreciating the loss.

One passage read: 'Unlike my other callers, who were stunned, barely able to articulate their condolences and offers of help, he sounded giddily elated – like a lottery winner, I remember thinking at the time.

The Duke of Sussex with James Haskell as he arrives at the inaugural Invictus Spirit Awards

At the awards ceremony this evening, the prince will celebrate the courage and commitment of people in the Invictus community

Prince Harry and Earl Spencer at the unveiling of a statue of Diana at Kensington Palace in 2021

Harry posed for photographs with the press, before taking selfies with other attendees 

Harry talks with guests as he arrives at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich

'He let me know he had informed William and Harry of their mother's death, first thing that morning, in their bedrooms at Balmoral.

'It all sounded strangely matter-of-fact, given the enormity of the disaster.

'Looking back now, I suspect the prince's first reaction must have been to think more of how this event might free him to marry the woman he loved, rather than appreciating the loss of one he did not.'

In other passages of the book, Earl Spencer spoke of how his sister drove 'more than once' to the cliffs at Beachy Head in East Sussex and was 'contemplating ending it all', adding that 'her love for her sons stopped her from going further'.

The excerpt later goes on to claim that Diana told her brother 'my husband is in love with his valet' after telling him she was going to get divorced.

The book reads: 'It is a sad fact that, in her later years, Diana drove herself more than once to Beachy Head, the highest chalk sea cliff in England, while contemplating ending it all.

'Her love for her sons stopped her from going further.

'One day Diana asked me at very short notice to join her for lunch at San Lorenzo, her favourite London restaurant.

'She looked down at the table and said, 'Carlos, I'm going to get divorced.'

'I was silent for a moment. I had known things were bad, but not this bad.

'Well, Duch,' I carefully replied, 'you of course have my full support… I know you'll have thought this through.

Renee O'Brien and Ross Kemp attend the Invictus Games awards event this evening 

The Duke of Sussex was shown prosthetics designed for youngsters at the Centre for Injury Studies, based at Imperial College London 

The Duke met Claire Sanford from Save The Children and took part in a panel discussion on supporting child amputees at the event

The Prince and Princess of Wales during a visit to the Bute Shinty Club in Rothesay today

The King shakes hands with Cabinet Secretary Dame Antonia Romeo at Dumfries House today

'But my main worry is the public. I fear they won't forgive you. They've bought into a fairytale, and I reckon they may well – wrongly – blame you for destroying their fantasy.'

'She looked up at me, nodded, and said quietly: 'But, Carlos, my husband is in love with his valet.'

'I gulped. 'Well, I guess, in that case, you really don't have a choice'.'

 The palace hit back at claims in the memoir last night with a short statement, saying 'the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason.'

They are yet to respond to the allegations made in the extract published today.  

Meanwhile, this week it was revealed that Harry and Meghan moved their children to a new school after talks with their security team.

Prince Archie, seven, and five-year-old Princess Lilibet had only just started at their new school in England after the family relocated from the US three weeks ago.

But they will now join another one, after heavy traffic and the lengthy journey to the school reportedly put the Sussexes' security team under strain. 

The decision comes amid reports that both the Sussexes will receive an official risk assessment following their return.

In January 2020, Harry and Meghan had announced they intended to step back as 'senior' members of the royal family, become financially independent, still support Queen Elizabeth II, but split their time between the UK and North America.

But the late Queen ruled at the Sandringham Summit, which was convened to resolve the Megxit crisis, that the couple could not be half in and half out – and the King recently said the agreement still stands.