Those he is said to have contacted recently, out of the blue, are those “acquired in more recent times” rather than Old Etonian friends.

As he prepares to turn 40 next week, he may be reflecting on his life choices and those he has left behind. They include his father and his brother, with whom personal contact has all but evaporated.

Harry has made no secret of his wish to reunite with King Charles in particular, despite conflicting narratives emerging from the two camps about efforts to make contact and who is rebuffing who.

The security issue also remains a key factor, with UK visits all but ruled out amid claims that it is too dangerous for Harry to return with no access to automatic police protection.

He is awaiting a date for his appeal against a High Court ruling after failing to successfully challenge the Government’s position.

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In the meantime, his clandestine visit last month, when he managed to fly in and out of the UK unnoticed to attend the funeral of his uncle, Lord Fellowes, in Norfolk, may pave the way for more frequent homecomings.

Although Team Sussex seemingly wanted to keep the Duke’s attendance under wraps, it demonstrated that he could come and go with minimal fanfare and, therefore, minimal security risk.

The visit also showed that Harry is keen to stand shoulder to shoulder with his family. Those close to him maintain that, despite the ongoing rift with his father and brother, he is incredibly happy and is determined to look forwards, not back.

He is preparing for a trip to New York, where he will take part in engagements connected to his various charities, including African Parks, the Halo Trust, the Diana Award, and Travalyst.

Telegraph, London

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