Key Highlights
- That was the same year as his no-holds-barred memoir Spare and a year after the Harry and Meghan Netflix documentary, both bristling with controversial views on the Royal Family. His successful court battle against the Mirror was huge news in itself, as the biggest royal appearance in a witness box of modern times. Prince Harry not planning to meet King on UK visitPrince Harry tells BBC he wants 'reconciliation' with Royal FamilyWhy did Harry and Meghan leave the Royal family?He didn't have problems with the questions, but he cut an isolated figure, with no company in the courtroom except his legal team and security. But, ahead of his latest court case, the mood music feels different: he's now building bridges rather than blowing them up. In his BBC interview last May, Prince Harry talked about wanting to end the rift with this his family, saying: "There's no point continuing to fight any more, life is precious." And in September, he met his father, King Charles, for their first face-to-face time together in 19 months.
- It was a sign of improving relationships. There's also a review of his security when he's in the UK, which could resolve another barrier to Harry's visits.
- Next year will bring his Invictus Games to Birmingham, his biggest event in the UK since his acrimonious departure in 2020. Getty ImagesPrince Harry (pictured with the then Prince Charles in London in 2019) is not expected to meet the King on this visitAlongside this sense of a growing rapprochement with his family is the unspoken expectation that Harry is keeping his head down for a while, avoiding bombshell interviews, not rocking the royal boat. So he won't be meeting his father during this court case, with the King wanting to keep a distance from such high-profile legal proceedings.
- And his brother Prince William has engagements in Scotland. Royal commentator Richard Palmer describes this as "Harry's final tilt at the national newspapers he blames for ruining his life"."His father and the Royal Household would clearly have preferred this trial not to go ahead and are distancing themselves.
- They'll be hoping Harry doesn't try to drag the King or other family members into the evidence."His hopes of a reconciliation may be hit if he says the wrong thing so I'm sure that will be weighing on his mind."But he adds: "It's interesting that, as far as we know, he's not planning to do any interviews to publicise this case.
