FORMERLY KNOWN AS PRINCE
Prince Harry says ‘just call me Harry’ after Queen’s royal ban over Megxit
PRINCE Harry today insisted people "just call me Harry" as he returned to the UK for one of his final engagements before he and his wife, Meghan Markle, officially step down as senior royals.
The Duke of Sussex seemed in good spirits as he gave an eco-warrior speech at a sustainable travel conference in Edinburgh.
The 35-year-old had arrived in Britain last night - the first time back home after he announced he and wife Meghan Markle were quitting as royals and moving to Canada.
And the event's host Ayesha Hazarika, editor of the Londoner Diary, told the crowd: "He's made it clear we are all just to call him Harry."
She later told the she had been specifically asked to tell the crowd about how to refer to the sixth-in-line to the throne.
She added: "That just to say 'look, I want to move away from that pomp and circumstance and I'm here as someone who is very passionate about this topic.
"He doesn't need a title. He is such a global figure now, he is recognisable all around the world. People know what he and his wife stand for, the causes they are passionate about. I think this is probably a nod to the future."
The comment comes after it was revealed Harry and Meghan would not be using the term Royal after they quit the Firm to become financially independent and live in North America.
However, Harry will remain sixth-in-line to the throne and retain his HRH status - although he won't use it.
During the event, the chairman of Visit Scotland, Lord Thurso, also introduced the Duke as “Harry” and “Sir”.
BACK IN TOWN
Yet despite the tumultuous weeks of negotiations, Harry today seemed happy as he chatted to those attending the event, stopping and shaking hands with a number of guests.
He appeared comfortable as he took to the stage to promote his Travalyst scoring system initiative that shows the eco-friendly status of aviation, accommodation and holiday experiences.
Speaking to the crowd, he praised travel as being at the "heart of human experience" but said he hoped the system would be a catalyst for "positive change" in the industry.
Sticking to his written script, he said: "We want to hear truths and perspectives from across the industry. We don't need to reinvent the wheel, a lot of great work has already been done.
"But our research again shows that many of these endeavours have failed to reach the conscientiousness of consumers."
Meghan and Harry last year faced criticism after taking four private jet flights over 11 days while preaching over the importance of the environment.
But when launching Travalyst Amsterdam last autumn, he defended his use of private planes, saying he spent "99% of my life" using commercial flights, but occasionally needed to ensure "my family are safe".
It's the first time that Prince Harry has made a public appearance since attending the Rugby League World Cup event at Buckingham Palace - hosted just days after crunch talks with the Queen at Sandringham.
Today, the Sussex Royal Instagram account said the 35-year-old wanted to hear what Scotland was doing to put "sustainability at the forefront of holidays".
The post added: "The number of tourists globally is rapidly rising, and based on an increasing desire from travellers, The Duke’s international partnership Travalyst is working to ensure the industry can better support communities that face increasing challenges of overcrowding, pollution, and the climate emergency.
"Supporting these communities means preserving these destinations for everyone."
Harry founded the Travalyst coalition along with brands including Booking.com, Skyscanner, Tripadvisor, Trip.com and Visa.
QUEEN OF STARTS Kate Middleton laughs as she races young athletes
KATE Middleton today showed how it's done as she raced young athletes at the London Stadium.
The Duchess of Cambridge donned sneakers and tied her hair back as she joined the track and field activities at the Olympic Park arena.
Wearing a trendy all-green outfit, Kate made sure to get hands on during today's visit as she joined boxing training.
And learning about the differences for para-athletes, the 38-year-old even took to the track herself - laughing as she raced some of the youngsters with coach Coral Nourrice, Jessica Ennis-Hill, Danny Sidbury and Emmanuel Oyinbo-Coker.
Kate, the patron of SportsAid, has been heavily involved in sport herself - previously competing in rowing, swimming and tennis.
It's been a busy week for the duchess, who last night headed to a play in London about mental health.
She and husband Prince William chatted with guests outside the Noel Coward Theatre at a special charity performance of the Tony award-winning hit musical Dear Evan Hansen.
Prince William was also out and about today, donning a high-vis jacket for a visit to the Tarmac National Skills and Safety Park in Nottinghamshire.
Last night, Harry headed to Edinburgh via the low-emission London North Eastern Railway train from London's King's Cross yesterday.
He had flown back to the UK on a commercial flight on Tuesday night, followed by tax-payer funded bodyguards.
It is unclear if he arrived back in the UK with Meghan and son Archie, or if they remain in Canada.
Today's event is the first in a string of engagements for the sixth-in-line to the throne as he returns to the UK for two weeks.
On Friday, Harry will work with Jon Bon Jovi to record a song to promote the Invictus Games.
And next week, the couple attend the Endeavour Fund Awards on March 5 in London while Prince William and Kate Middleton are in Ireland.
The duke and duchess's lives as working royals will end on March 31, when they stop representing the Queen and become financially independent.
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As part of the Megxit deal, Harry must ditch his honorary military positions for at least 12 months.
They have been allowed to keep their HRH titles but have been forced to accept that they will not use them publicly as they tout for business around the globe.
The Sussexes have already agreed to repay the £2.4million of taxpayers’ money used to refurbish their Frogmore Cottage home in Windsor and are expected to pay a commercial rent for it of about £30,000 a month.
The Sun says
THE Royal Family will miss Harry. He was an asset to them once.
We saw a glimpse of the old Prince yesterday: Smiling, friendly, down-to-earth, asking everyone to call him plain old Harry.
That was the bloke the public loved . . . before he and Meghan walked out on the Palace for a more lucrative, more glamorous, more carefree life.
One day maybe a wiser Harry will emerge. If so, we doubt Britain will hold a grudge.
BBC correspondent says Meghan and Harry are 'completely on the outside' after loss of Sussex Royal title
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