Meghan Markle and Prince Harry set for Super Bowl appearance this weekend

The Super Bowl LVIII is to be played at Allegiant Stadium in Nevada with the San Francisco 49ers set to face the Kansas City Chiefs.

On Thursday, the Duke of Sussex appeared to present the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award after a 24-hour trip to the UK to visit his father, the King.

On Monday, Buckingham Palace announced that the King has been diagnosed with a form of cancer.

The next day, Prince Harry flew from LA to London to meet with his father at Clarence House for less than an hour.

On Wednesday the duke boarded a flight from Heathrow Airport back to the US to attend the NFL Honors the following evening.

It is reported that Prince Harry did not see the Prince or the Princess of Wales on his brief trip to the UK.

At the American football award ceremony, the prince made a series of jokes comparing rugby to American football.

Harry said onstage: "I really love how you stole rugby from us and you made it your own...Instead of passing it backwards, just pass it forwards. Why not wear pads and a helmet?

"Of course, have an offence and defence, that makes sense, and why not have a breather every 15 seconds? And you know what? Instead of a 10-month season, let's just make it 18 weeks. Genius.

"All kidding aside, what you guys do on and off the field is truly remarkable. You are role models for millions in the way you carry yourselves and the way you give back.”

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Harry was not expected to be seen in public before he and his wife, Meghan, travel to Canada next week for the Invictus Games.

But he shocked audiences as he turned up to hand the award to Pittsburgh Steelers defensive Cameron Heyward.

Heyward said: “I'm just shocked, that's Prince Harry.”

The Super Bowl is scheduled to begin at 11.30pm in the UK, but in the US, it will kick off at 6.30pm on the east coast.