As Prince William and Kate Middleton were engaged in official duties in Scotland, Prince Harry returned to London for his trial against Associated Newspapers. The Duke of Sussex arrived in the U.K. capital while the royal couple were hundreds of miles away.
William and Kate, also known as the Prince and Princess of Wales, embarked on their trip to Scotland on Jan. 20, coinciding with the week of Harry’s court appearance. This scheduling resulted in the royal couple being out of the capital during Harry’s ongoing legal proceedings.
Prince Harry arrived in Britain on Jan. 19, joining high-profile co-claimants including musician Sir Elton John, actress Elizabeth Hurley, and actress Sadie Frost in accusing the publisher of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday of engaging in illicit information collection.
Associated Newspapers refuted these accusations, dismissing them as “preposterous smears.”
Meanwhile, in Stirling, Scotland, William and Kate, or the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay as known by their Scottish titles, paid a visit to the National Curling Academy. They met with Great Britain’s Olympic and Paralympic curling teams in anticipation of the upcoming Winter Games.
Following their engagement at the curling center, the royal couple headed to Radical Weavers. This handweaving studio and independent charity in Stirling aims to combat social isolation and assist individuals impacted by trauma and loss by teaching them Scottish tartan-weaving skills.
This visit marks another public appearance for William and Kate, following their first joint outing of the year to Charing Cross Hospital in West London, where Kate introduced her husband simply as William, eschewing royal titles.
Harry’s lawsuit against Associated Newspapers is the latest in a series of legal actions taken by the Duke against British media outlets. The co-claimants allege that the publisher used private investigators and committed various alleged wrongdoings, including phone tapping and impersonating individuals to obtain private medical information.
Harry testified for an entire day on Wednesday, Jan. 21. In similar previous cases against other British publications, the Duke has been successful, securing around £140,600 ($180,000) in damages from Mirror Group Newspapers.
The tension between Harry and his brother William continues. They last publicly appeared together at King Charles’s coronation in May 2023. Although both attended their maternal uncle’s funeral in August 2024, they didn’t interact or sit near each other.
Harry, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and their two children, Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, four, currently reside in Montecito, California. The family has lived there since Harry and Meghan stepped down from their royal duties in 2020.
The Duke’s security situation drastically altered after he lost his taxpayer-funded protection following his exit as a senior royal. Harry has previously expressed concerns about the safety of his family in the U.K. without adequate security.
In May 2025, the Court of Appeal ruled unanimously against Harry, upholding the government’s decision to provide him with security on a case-by-case basis rather than automatic protection during UK visits.
After being diagnosed with cancer and completing chemotherapy treatment in September 2024, Kate has gradually resumed her public duties, emphasizing engagements that promote connections and human relationships.
According to Kensington Palace, William and Kate’s trip to Stirling was intended to “shine a spotlight on unique Scottish heritage traditions and how they continue to connect communities and inspire new generations.”