August M
Prince Harry’s return to Britain this month is expected to pass without a reunion with his father.
Royal commentators say the distance is deliberate, driven by caution rather than scheduling alone.
Court trip looms
The Duke of Sussex is due in London to attend a High Court case against Associated Newspapers Limited, the publisher of the Daily Mail. According to The Telegraph, proceedings are set to begin on Monday, January 19.
Harry is one of seven claimants taking part in the trial, alongside figures including Sir Elton John, David Furnish, Elizabeth Hurley and Baroness Doreen Lawrence. The case is expected to run for up to nine weeks.
The Duke is anticipated to be the first witness to give evidence.
No reunion planned
Despite being in the same country, King Charles is not expected to meet his younger son during the visit.
Royal expert Kinsey Schofield told Fox News that the King is deliberately keeping his distance because of concerns over privacy. “It’s important to note that King Charles does not regularly communicate with Harry,” she said.
She added: “The Royal Family views him as untrustworthy and a liability, largely due to concerns that private conversations will quickly find their way into the press,” reports The Express.
Private concerns
Schofield said the situation is particularly sensitive given the King’s health. “This is especially sensitive given that the King’s cancer treatment is considered a deeply private matter,” she told the outlet.
She also suggested there would be little appetite for an emotional reconciliation during the trip. “Emotional distractions aren’t likely to be part of this trip,” she said, adding: “Nor does the Family want a media circus with the optics regarding family disputes overshadowing such important state business.”
Schofield further noted that security and logistical challenges make private royal visits “extremely rare”.
Different locations
According to The Telegraph, the King is “almost certainly” expected to be in Scotland while Harry is in London. Royal sources told the paper that Charles has “no wish to be linked to any court proceedings”.
Harry’s visit is expected to be brief. He and his father last met at Clarence House for under an hour during a previous UK trip.
Before that, their most recent meeting was in February 2024, when Harry returned to Britain following the King’s cancer diagnosis.
Sources: The Express, The Telegraph, Fox News
