Prince Harry returned to London for his first official engagement of the week as fresh questions about his royal relationships continued to dominate headlines. His latest UK visit was meant to spotlight the Invictus Games, but the ongoing feud with the royal family and renewed security concerns once again stole part of the spotlight.

The Duke of Sussex arrived at Chatham House on July 7 to attend the Invictus Games Foundation Conversation, kicking off the one-year countdown to the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham. The appearance also came just hours after renewed scrutiny over where Harry would stay during his visit and whether he would see King Charles or Prince William.

Prince Harry kept the focus on the Invictus Games as royal questions followed him

Harry smiled and briefly waved to photographers before entering Chatham House but did not answer shouted questions about his legal battle with the Daily Mail or reports surrounding Buckingham Palace accommodations, according to People. HELLO! also reported that the Duke arrived around 30 minutes earlier than expected, catching members of the media by surprise ahead of the event.

Inside, Harry addressed veterans, policymakers, rehabilitation experts and members of the Invictus community as the organization welcomed Uganda as its 26th participating nation.

“I’m also incredibly pleased that today we will welcome another nation into the Invictus Community,” Harry said, according to People. “Growth has never been about numbers. It’s about reaching those who need us most. Building partnerships that last. And ensuring that no one feels they’re making this journey alone.”

According to HELLO!, Harry also told delegates, “I hope you leave this conference with a deeper understanding of what the Invictus Movement really is. Not simply a week of sport every few years, but a community united by one belief: that the unconquered human spirit exists in every nation and that our shared responsibility is to create the conditions in which it can flourish.”

The visit unfolded without Meghan Markle, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. According to People, the family did not travel to London because of ongoing security concerns, although it remained unclear whether they would join Harry later during the trip.

The visit also continued to fuel speculation about Harry’s standing within the royal family. According to People, a spokesperson for the Duke said an offer from King Charles to stay at Buckingham Palace had been withdrawn after Harry formally accepted it. Palace sources disputed that account, saying the deadline to accept the invitation had already passed.

Despite the surrounding drama, Harry continued to emphasize the mission that inspired the Invictus Games. Speaking to TIME earlier this year, he reflected on how sport changed his own life.

“Sport held me together,” Harry said. He later added, “I thought, ‘Wow, look at the power of sport… Let’s invite as many countries as possible to make it international, because clearly more countries need to benefit from this.’”

Meanwhile, HELLO! reported that Harry appeared visibly shaken after learning he had lost his High Court privacy case against Associated Newspapers shortly before delivering his speech, though he continued with the engagement as planned.