Prince William Attends Royal Obligations While Prince Harry Appears in Court 120 Miles Away in London
Prince William and Prince Harry on Jan. 22, 2026.
Credit :
Alastair Grant – WPA Pool/Getty; Neil Mockford/GC
NEED TO KNOW
- Prince William and Prince Harry were over 100 miles apart on Jan. 22
- King Charles’ sons undertook separate engagements
- The Prince of Wales, 43, visited Bristol while the Duke of Sussex, 41, was in court for a lawsuit against the publisher of the Daily Mail
On January 22, both Prince William and Prince Harry were in the U.K. yet had no interactions planned.
Prince William engaged in royal duties in Bristol, focusing on the city’s sustainability initiatives and its contributions to British innovation.
Meanwhile, around 120 miles away, Prince Harry attended the Royal Courts of Justice in London to support Elizabeth Hurley as she testified against Associated Newspapers Limited. Harry and Hurley, alongside six other prominent figures, are accusing the publisher of unlawful information gathering. In a previous court appearance on January 21, Harry provided an emotional testimony.
Prince Harry leaves court during a case against Associated Newspapers Ltd at the Royal Courts of Justice on Jan. 22, 2026.
Neil Mockford/GC
While Prince Harry was in court, Prince William made several notable stops in Bristol. He visited the Earthshot Prize finalist Matter, explored the UK’s most powerful supercomputer at the University of Bristol, and toured the Bristol Robotics Laboratory, a leading human-centered robotics research facility.
During the robotics visit, William took a ride on a lightweight mobility scooter, a rare opportunity since his personal electric scooter is currently banned at his home in Windsor.
Prince William rides a lightweight mobility scooter at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory on Jan. 22, 2026.
Alastair Grant – WPA Pool/Getty
The ongoing estrangement between Prince Harry and Prince William is evident, as the two siblings are unlikely to reunite during Harry’s current visit to the U.K. Their longstanding rift became public following Harry and Meghan Markle’s decision to step back from royal duties in 2020.
It is also improbable that Prince Harry will meet with King Charles during this trip. The two had a reunion in September 2025, marking their first meeting in 18 months after years of strained relations. Close sources previously indicated that communication between the King and Harry had been limited, with unreturned calls and unanswered messages.
While Prince Harry was at court, King Charles was attending a royal reception in Edinburgh. The sovereign was subsequently in London for a meeting with the President of Indonesia, while Prince William and Kate Middleton were in Scotland, further distancing themselves from Harry’s court appearances.
King Charles receives President of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto during an audience at Clarence House on Jan. 21, 2026.
Aaron Chown – WPA Pool/Getty
The legal proceedings involving Prince Harry are part of an ongoing series of lawsuits against British publications. He named Prince William, King Charles, and Princess Kate in his witness statement, citing that he was in “regular contact” with them during the time frame of his claims, which extends from 1996 to at least 2014.
Harry has alleged that private details in media reports could only have been obtained through unlawfully gathered information within trusted relationships. However, Associated Newspapers has emphatically denied these allegations.
