rince Harry is reportedly expected to return to the UK later this month for a high-profile court appearance, but insiders say there are currently “no plans” for him to reunite with his father, King Charles.

The Duke of Sussex is due to give evidence in a legal case against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), the publisher of the Daily Mail.

The trial is part of an ongoing privacy lawsuit involving several celebrity claimants, including Sir Elton John and Liz Hurley. It is reportedly scheduled to begin on January 19.
Prince Harry reportedly has no plans to meet with his father during his trip to the UK later this month (Credit: SplashNews.com)

Prince Harry ‘unlikely to meet with King Charles during UK visit’

While the date has been tentatively set, the trial’s exact timetable has yet to be formally confirmed.

According to The Telegraph, this lack of clarity has prevented Harry from finalising his travel plans, including booking his flights from California to London.

As a result, it’s claimed that the prince has been unable to commit to any personal engagements while in the UK, including the possibility of meeting King Charles.

The report also said that the ambiguity surrounding the trial has made it difficult for Harry to coordinate any private meetings, especially with his father’s own schedule.

According to the publication, the king will “almost certainly be in Scotland” during Harry’s trip dates. King Charles traditionally retreats to his Scottish residence after the holidays before resuming royal duties.

In addition to scheduling complications, insiders have indicated the king prefers to remain detached from any ongoing court proceedings.

“He [King Charles] has no wish to be linked to any court proceedings,” one source explained.
The Duke of Sussex will be in the UK for his lawsuit against the publisher of the Daily Mail (Credit: SplashNews.com)

Prince Harry’s privacy lawsuit

The duke is one of seven claimants accusing ANL of serious breaches of privacy. These include the alleged use of private investigators to place listening devices in vehicles and the illegal acquisition of private phone data.

The publisher has strongly denied all allegations, calling them “simply preposterous”.

Harry is expected to be the first to take the stand. The claimants’ legal team has asked all parties to appear at the trial’s opening in a “show of strength”.

The visit is likely to be short, just a few days, given Harry’s commitments in California.

However, behind the scenes, he is reportedly still holding out hope that 2026 will see a renewed connection with his family.

A friend of the Sussexes shared that Harry is “desperate” for a reunion between the king and his grandchildren. He is reportedly keen for his father to spend time with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

The last meeting between Harry and King Charles took place in September 2025. It reportedly marked their first face-to-face conversation in 19 months.

The short but significant tea at Clarence House was widely seen as a turning point in their strained relationship.

Since then, sources claim the two have maintained more regular contact behind the scenes.

Now, with King Charles expected to travel to the United States in April, Harry is reportedly hoping that a family visit to Montecito could be arranged during the trip.