The Duke of Sussex returned to the UK briefly last week to attend the funeral of a family member near the Althorp estate.

Prince Harry visited his mother’s grave on his recent UK return (Image: Anwar Hussein/WireImage)

Prince Harry’s recent visit to the UK gave him a chance to visit his mother’s grave, a source has said.

The Duke of Sussex returned to his home country last week to attend the funeral of his uncle Robert Fellowes, the husband of Diana’s elder sister Jane.

During his visit, Harry stayed with his uncle Charles at Althorp House, the stately home where his mother Princess Diana grew up

A friend and neighbour of Diana’s brother, the 9th Earl, Charles Spencer, has now told The Daily Beast that Harry was spotted visiting his mother’s grave on the estate, which requires a small rowing boat to get too.

This was just days before the anniversary of Diana’s death.

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The Spencer friend told The Daily Beast: “Harry visited the grave when he was in Althorp. It’s a very special place for all the family but especially Harry. It was a significant part of his motivation for staying there.”

Harry has made special visits to his mother’s grave multiple times since her death, with one of his last visits being with his wife Meghan Markle.

In his memoir Spare, the prince said: “Meg’s first time. At long last, I was bringing the girl of my dreams home to meet mum.

“We hesitated, hugging, and then I went first. I placed flowers on the grave.

“Meg gave me a moment, and I spoke to my mother in my head, told her I missed her, asked her for guidance and clarity. Feeling that Meg might also want a moment, I went around the hedge, scanned the pond. When I came back, Meg was kneeling, eyes shut, palms against the stone.”

Despite Prince William also being close by his mother’s ancestral home last week for his uncle’s funeral, it is not believed that he visited the grave or the estate.

Sources have said that William did not part any words with his brother Harry, despite the funeral being the first time they have been in the same room since their father King Charles’ Coronation a year prior.

The relationship between the once-close brothers is believed to be more strained than ever before, particularly after the release of Harry’s memoir Spare last year.

No more details about Harry’s visit to the UK or his mother’s grave have emerged since the fleeting visit and it is not known when the prince will next return to the UK, despite a wave of dispelled rumours that he could relocate back to the country.