The Duke of Sussex was in London in January for the start of the legal battle.

Prince Harry
Prince Harry will return to the UK for the Invictus Games (Image: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
The Duke of Sussex was in London for four days last month for the start of the legal battle but he is likely to return this in the summer for a special and happier reason. In July, in Birmingham, a series of events heralding the Invictus Games’ one-year countdown. Prince Harry founded the Invictus Games in 2014, international contest for wounded, injured and sick armed forces members and veterans and their families.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle both attended the one-year-to-go events in Vancouver, Canada, in February 2024, and the couple was also in Düsseldorf, Germany, for similar events in September 2022.

With Prince Harry’s trial against ANL being scheduled for nine weeks, the case should be well over by the time the Invictus Games holds its fanfare for the year-out celebration.

He is one of seven high-profile figures bringing a civil case against ANL – among the others are Sir Elton John, his husband David Furnish, actress Liz Hurley, campaigner Baroness Doreen Lawrence, politician Sir Simon Hughes, and actress Sadie Frost.

The seven claimants have accused Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) of “grave breaches of privacy”, however, the publishers of the Daily Mail have rejected the allegations as “preposterous”. The publishers strenuously deny the claim and say their stories were sourced legitimately.

There is also a security situation to consider before Harry returns to the UK. His team is currently awaiting the decision on whether full-scale security will be reinstated for him and his family when they visit the UK.

Prince Harry
The Invictus Games 2027 will be held in Birmingham (Image: Samir Hussein/WireImage)

In May, 2024, Prince Harry lost a legal case to have his police protection reinstated when visiting the UK.

Ravec first made its decision in February 2020 after Harry and Meghan stopped working as senior royals. It is understood a Home Office review is looking at whether he should automatically receive full police protection on visits to the UK even though he is no longer a working member of the Royal Family.

After the one-year-to-go events, the Invictus Games Birmingham 2027 will be held in July 2027.

The UK backed bid went up against six cities around the world and Birmingham won through its strong commitment to the welfare and recovery of serving personnel and veterans.