King Charles departs London as Prince Harry gives emotional court testimony
King Charles has left London without meeting his son Prince Harry on the same day the Duke of Sussex appeared visibly emotional while giving evidence in his high-profile legal battle. The King conducted official engagements in the capital while his son testified in court just two miles away.
Conservation reception at Lancaster House
Charles attended a reception in support of Indonesian conservation efforts at Lancaster House on Wednesday morning. The event, held next door to his Clarence House residence, focused on biodiversity protection initiatives in Indonesia. The King was joined by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, with the two leaders pictured smiling broadly during their meeting at Clarence House afterwards.
As he departed the event, Charles was seen sheltering under a large black umbrella and joked about the rainy London weather with the Indonesian president. "Sorry about the weather," he remarked, prompting laughter from those present.
Royal engagements amid family separation
The King's London engagements occurred just two miles from where Prince Harry began giving evidence in person in his legal battle against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), publisher of the Daily Mail. After approximately two hours in the witness box, Harry appeared on the verge of tears, his voice cracking as he stated: "They continue to come after me, they have made my wife's life an absolute misery."
Despite the geographical proximity, the King and his son were not believed to have met during this visit. This follows the general principle that a sovereign should avoid any association with active legal proceedings. The Queen, Harry's stepmother, was also absent from London, carrying out engagements in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.
Conservation discussions and royal protocol
Before the King's arrival at Lancaster House, a roundtable discussion was staged to mobilise support for conserving Indonesia's biodiversity and landscapes. The talks focused particularly on the Peusangan Elephant Conservation Initiative, which aims to protect critically endangered Sumatran elephants and their forest habitats.
The discussions were co-hosted by UK Minister for Indo-Pacific Seema Malhotra and Indonesian Special Presidential Envoy on Energy and Environment Hashim Djojohadikusumo. Charles and President Subianto later met representatives from the conservation initiative and other organisations in the Grand Hall, where they shared a cup of tea.
Legal proceedings and family dynamics
Prince Harry is among several high-profile figures bringing legal action against ANL over allegations of unlawful information gathering. The claims include accusations that information for articles was obtained through phone tapping and "blagging" private records. ANL has strongly denied any wrongdoing and is defending against the claims.
The royal separation during this visit contrasts with Harry's last UK trip in September, when he was reunited with his father for the first time in 19 months. The two shared afternoon tea at Clarence House, with Harry describing his father as "great" despite their historically troubled relationship.
Despite their physical separation on this occasion, Charles and Harry are reportedly now in regular contact. This development follows the King's cancer diagnosis in 2024 and his recent announcement that his treatment schedule would be reduced from the New Year, which he described as a "personal blessing."
The current situation reflects the complex intersection of royal duties, family relationships, and legal considerations that continue to shape the dynamics within the British royal family.
