Prince Harry in England: A Surprise Trip with No Time for Royal …

Prince Harry may return to the U.K. in January. (Photo: Raph_PH, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons)

During a sudden visit to London last week, Prince Harry made headlines as he appeared at High Court on Monday for a privacy case against Associated Newspapers. As the news spread, speculation grew about whether the Duke of Sussex would find time to meet with his estranged family members. However, it seems that family reunions were not on the itinerary.

As reported by The Telegraph, Prince Harry informed his father, King Charles, about his presence in London due to the legal proceedings. However, he informed the monarch that he was "too busy" to schedule a visit. In the meantime, Harry was said to have been residing at Frogmore Cottage, which he and Meghan Markle will soon leave behind for good.

"It is understood the Duke of Sussex stayed at the Windsor property before making his surprise appearance at the Royal Courts of Justice last week. The Duke arrived in the UK last weekend and is thought to have flown back on Thursday night. He appeared in court on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday and is thought likely to have also used the visit to sort out the couple's belongings and work out what needs to be shipped to the US ahead of vacating the property," The Telegraph elaborated.

Prince Harry was in close proximity to Prince William and Kate Middleton, who reside at Adelaide Cottage, but The Express reported that the Prince and Princess of Wales were away for their children's "half term" holidays, making a visit impossible. Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams provided insight into the unexpected nature of Prince Harry's visit in an interview with The Express: "The problem with this appearance is that it is a surprise appearance and the Sussexes do like to surprise. They're always unpredictable and nobody expected this.

There is little doubt Harry is attaching his name to a list which is very distinguished, but equally, it was an opportunity for him to appear on the privacy area where the Sussexes feel very strongly." Fitzwilliams also noted the difficulty in arranging a meeting between Harry and King Charles due to the unplanned nature of the trip and concerns about trust: "It's very hard to see what he and the King would have to say to each other because can you trust saying anything sensitive when it might very well appear in a book or article?" There is a possibility that Prince Harry may return to England in the coming weeks for King Charles' coronation, although he and Meghan have not yet confirmed their plans.

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