King Charles and Prince William Won't Meet Prince Harry During His Surprise UK Trip

Royal sources say King Charles III and The Prince of Wales are both busy with their respective schedules and have no time to meet Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex.

Prince Harry made a surprise visit to the United Kingdom and arrived at the High Court in London to attend a hearing in his claim against Daily Mail publisher,  Associated Newspapers Limited.

Prince Harry snapped as he entered the High Court. Image: PA

The Duke of Sussex is one of the high-profile figures who allege the newspaper publisher — which owns the Daily Mail, Mail Online, and Mail on Sunday — used unlawful information-gathering tactics.

None of the claimants are expected to speak during the four-day hearing, according to a press release from Hamlins, one of the law firms involved, which made it a big surprise for local media to see Prince Harry appear at the High Court hearing.

Prince Harry reportedly seated next to his fellow claimant in a back row of the courtroom, studiously taking notes in a black notebook.

Prince Harry enters the High Court. Image: PA

The Duke of Sussex is currently suing the Associated Newspaper Limited separately for defamation over an article in February 2022 about his security arrangements.

The Daily Mail article alleged that Prince Harry had tried to keep secret details of his legal fight to reinstate his police protection and that his aides had then tried to put a positive spin on it. Associated Newspapers had denied the article was libelous.

Britain's Home Office, which oversees the country's police forces, ruled in 2020 that Prince Harry's family would not be automatically given the "same degree" of royal security within the United Kingdom but would have protection assigned on a case-by-case basis. The Home Office also said it wouldn't allow Prince Harry to pay for his own police protection. 

It is believed this visit is his first trip to the United Kingdom since he attended the funeral of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, in September 2022.

Frogmore Cottage near Windsor Castle

The trip comes weeks after it was reported that King Charles III asked the Sussexes to vacate Frogmore Cottage. Related story: Buckingham Palace requested Prince Harry to vacate Frogmore.

According to UK media, Prince Harry is not expected to meet his father during his UK trip. Although the king was informed his son is in London, His Majesty was reportedly busy preparing for his first state visit to France and Germany beginning Thursday, March 30.

Harry and Meghan in Frogmore Cottage kitchen shown on Netflix

The Duke of Sussex is also not expected to meet his brother, Prince William, who is reportedly not in London or Windsor.

So Prince Harry has enough time to pack his belongings from Frogmore Cottage before returning to California. His wife, Meghan Markle, was not with him during his recent UK trip.

His surprise return comes nearly three months after he laid bare his troubled relationship with his father King Charles and brother Prince William in his controversial autobiography Spare.