Prince Harry makes first appearance following emotional day

Despite losing his court battle on Tuesday, the Duke of Sussex still continued with his UK plans, paying a visit to the Royal Hospital Chelsea

© Alamy Stock Photo
Matthew Moore
Matthew MooreSenior Evening Writer
32 minutes ago
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Prince Harry avoided the media on Wednesday as he carried out an engagement he was supposed to tackle with his wife, Meghan Markle.

The Duke of Sussex headed to the Royal Hospital Chelsea without the media present. The decision to exclude the press was down to the ongoing heatwave in the United Kingdom, with soaring temperatures predicted at the historic venue.

While there, Harry was met by Invictus Games Federation Trustee David Richmond, who is also the CEO of the Royal Hospital Chelsea. He was also greeted by the former Invictus competitor Josh Boggi, and Deputy CEO Richard Smith.

Harry then attended a meeting with international Team Managers in planning ahead of the upcoming Invictus Games, which will be held in Birmingham in 2027. He also joined a strategy session with former Invictus Games hosts and partners for the future of the Invictus Movement.

Prince Harry standing in a crowd of people© Alamy Stock Photo
Harry spent time at Royal Hospital Chelsea

The royal's wife was originally supposed to join him during the visit to the Royal Hospital Chelsea, but in the days ahead of his UK return, it was confirmed that Meghan and the children she shares with Harry wouldn't be joining him in London.

It remains unclear whether they will join Harry for other parts of his visit.

Harry's disappointing day

Harry's visit also comes a day after he lost a court case against Associated Newspapers Limited, which publishes titles including the Daily Mail. Harry, alongside claimants like Elton John and Elizabeth Hurley alleged unlawful information gathering from journalists at the publication.

In part of a statement shared following the judgement, Harry said: "We came to Court seeking justice and accountability. But we have received neither. This judgment represents a complete reversal of the position which previous Judges have taken in relation to the hacking claims successfully brought against both News Group Newspapers and Mirror Group Newspapers (who were represented by, at the time, the Judge who made this decision).

Prince Harry attends day 2 of a Court of Appeal hearing regarding his security at the Royal Courts of Justice on April 9, 2025 in London© Getty Images
Harry was surprised following the judgment

"Generic findings about various private investigators that were held by the Courts in these parallel claims to have carried out unlawful activity at the very same time in relation to similar stories and well-known individuals have been wholly ignored.

"The fact that this Court has chosen to dismiss them represents an inconsistency which is hard to understand or reconcile with common sense, or the evidence heard in the court room itself."

Challenge against the Home Office over UK security arrangements

In 2024, a High Court judge dismissed Harry's claim against the Home Office over security arrangements for himself and his family when they are in the UK.

The Duke challenged a February 2020 decision of the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec), which falls under the remit of the department, after being told he would no longer be given the "same degree" of personal protective security when visiting.

Harry's lawyers said he was "singled out" and treated "less favourably" in the decision, arguing a failure to carry out a risk analysis and fully consider the impact of a "successful attack" on him meant the approach to his protection was “unlawful and unfair".

The Government argued Ravec was entitled to conclude the Duke's protection should be "bespoke" and considered on a "case-by-case" basis.

Retired High Court judge Sir Peter Lane ruled that Ravec's approach was not irrational nor procedurally unfair, claiming Harry's lawyers had taken "an inappropriate, formalist interpretation of the Ravec process".

Harry was given permission to challenge Sir Peter's ruling in June last year, but this after a two-day hearing in April 2025, his appeal was dismissed in May 2025.

Unlawful information-gathering allegations against Associated Newspapers

Harry was one of seven high-profile people, including Sir Elton John and Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon, who brought legal action against the publisher of the Daily Mail over allegations it carried out or commissioned unlawful information gathering.

The firmly denied allegations against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) include the hiring of private investigators to place listening devices inside cars, the "blagging" of private records, and the accessing and recording of private phone conversations.

At a preliminary hearing, the publisher asked a judge to rule in its favour without a trial – arguing the legal challenges against it were brought "far too late".

The Duke made a surprise appearance at the Royal Courts of Justice in London for the proceedings in March 2023, where his lawyers argued that those bringing legal action were "thrown off the scent" and not aware of being targeted, having believed "categorical denials" from ANL over any involvement in unlawful activity.

Judge Mr Justice Nicklin ruled in November 2023 that the publisher had failed to deliver a "knockout blow" to the early-stage legal challenges, allowing them to continue.

The case went to trial in 2026, and on July 7 the knockout blow was eventually delivered when Judge Nicklin ruled in favour of ANL on the grounds none of the group of seven had proven the allegations of unlawful information gathering.

Settlement with News Group Newspapers

Harry alleged he was targeted by journalists and private investigators working for News Group Newspapers (NGN), which publishes The Sun and published the now-defunct News Of The World.

Shortly before an up-to-10-week trial was due to begin earlier this year, the Duke and NGN reached an agreement including a "full and unequivocal apology" and "substantial" damages, announced on 22 January.

NGN apologised to Harry for intrusion between 1996 and 2011, including "incidents of unlawful activities" by private investigators working for The Sun.

The publisher also apologised to the Duke for phone hacking, surveillance and misuse of private information by journalists and private investigators at the News of the World, which closed in 2011.

"We acknowledge and apologise for the distress caused to the duke, and the damage inflicted on relationships, friendships and family, and have agreed to pay him substantial damages," the NGN statement said.

The publisher also apologised for the impact of the "serious intrusion" into the private life of Harry's late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.

An NGN spokesperson previously said its apology to Harry covered "incidents of unlawful activities carried out by private investigators working for The Sun, not by journalists, during the period 1996-2011".

They added: "There are strong controls and processes in place at all our titles today to ensure this cannot happen now. There was no voicemail interception on The Sun."

Lord Tom Watson, former Labour deputy leader, who was also taking legal action against the publisher, settled his claim as well.

Reporting by PA.

On the day of the judgement, Harry headed to Chatham House, and the Duke of Sussex looked visibly shocked and unsteady as he delivered a six-minute speech.

This wasn't Harry's only disappointing moment during his UK visit, as although he sought to stay at Buckingham Palace, he was turned down from staying at the royal residence. A spokesman for Harry said it was "disappointing" the offer from the King had been "withdrawn at the last moment".

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