Prince Harry returns to London next week, but most of his family will be out of town.
The Duke of Sussex, 41, will be back in the U.K. for the opening of his High Court trial, the final legal step in his series of lawsuits against Associated Newspapers.
At a Glance
- Prince Harry faces Associated Newspapers in London High Court on Jan. 21
- Prince William and Kate Middleton will be 400 miles away in Scotland for joint engagements
- King Charles is unlikely to meet Harry while the trial is active
- The case involves Elton John, Elizabeth Hurley and Sadie Frost alongside Harry
Why it matters: The scheduling clash highlights ongoing family tensions and underscores Harry’s isolation from royal duties as he pursues legal action against British media.
Trial Timing Collides With Royal Schedule
On Jan. 21, Prince William, 43, and Kate Middleton, 44, have a joint engagement in Scotland, taking them hundreds of miles from the English capital.
The royal couple will first visit the National Curling Academy in Stirling to meet with Great Britain’s Olympic and Paralympic curling teams ahead of the upcoming Winter Olympic Games and Winter Paralympic Games.
They will then visit Radical Weavers in Stirling, a working handweaving studio that doubles as a charity where patrons learn about the heritage of Scottish tartan and benefit from the therapeutic qualities of weaving while creating blankets and textiles to give back to those in need.
Meanwhile, Prince Harry is expected to be in court for most of the week, as he joins several high-profile figures in suing Associated Newspapers (ANL) – the publisher of the Daily Mail and the Mail on Sunday – for alleged illegal information gathering.
High-Profile Claimants Join Legal Battle
The Duke of Sussex is joined by pop star Elton John, actress Elizabeth Hurley and Jude Law’s ex-wife Sadie Frost in the lawsuit against the newspaper publisher.
Associated Newspapers has “vigorously” denied the allegations, the BBC previously reported.
This marks the final legal step in Harry’s series of lawsuits against Associated Newspapers, bringing his lengthy legal battle against British media to a head.
Family Meetings Remain Unlikely
Harry is also not expected to see his father, King Charles, while he is in London, as the King tries to avoid active legal cases.
The father and son had their first in-person meeting in 18 months during Harry’s last visit to the U.K. in September.
The King’s stance on avoiding active court cases means the Duke of Sussex will likely spend his time in London without any royal family contact.
Future U.K. Visits May Increase
Prince Harry – along with his wife, Meghan Markle, 44, and their two children, Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4 – may soon be making more returns to the country of his birth.
The Duke of Sussex previously said that he didn’t feel safe bringing his family to the U.K. after his full-time security was stripped when he and Meghan stepped back from their roles as working royals in 2020.
Earlier this month, however, insiders told News Of Losangeles that there were “positive” indications coming from the government about a reversal of that decision.
At the time, the sources were cautiously hopeful that the decision would be made to once again grant him a taxpayer-funded security cover.
Security Concerns Drive Family Separation
The security issue has kept Harry’s family primarily in California since 2020.
Without full police protection, Harry has expressed concerns about bringing Meghan and their children to Britain.
The potential reversal of the security decision could pave the way for more frequent family visits to the U.K.
This development comes as Harry maintains his legal residence in the United States while pursuing various lawsuits against British media organizations.
The trial against Associated Newspapers represents the culmination of his legal efforts to hold British tabloids accountable for alleged privacy violations.
With William and Kate scheduled to be in Scotland throughout Harry’s court appearance, the royal family continues to maintain physical and symbolic distance during this contentious legal proceedings.
