Harry's Court Appearance Has Royal Watchers Reading Into One Detail — Pointing to William
They say that the appearance of a person says a thousand words, and Prince Harry may have taken that phrase to a whole new level. The Duke returned to the UK on January 19 for his case against Associated Newspapers Limited, the publisher of the Daily Mail and the Mail on Sunday. But his outfit is drawing more attention than the legal arguments. As he took the stand, royal watchers believed his choice of attire, particularly his tie, carried a secret message for his brother, Prince William. So, is he trying to mend fences? Or is the entire thing purely coincidental?
Harry is part of a group of high-profile figures who’ve alleged that the publisher used unlawful means to invade their privacy. The Duke took the stand on the third day and made several claims on why and how the media’s blatant reporting disrupted his private life. Amid his emotional recollections, the legal case soon became wrapped in family symbolism, with observers searching behind the witness box. Fashion experts began decoding the Prince’s outfits and quickly caught on to one detail—Harry’s burgundy and navy blue tie. But why did something as simple as a tie immediately stand out?
The accessory stood out because he had worn the same tie in 2017, standing beside William at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial. His choice to wear something closely linked with his brother suggested a nod to their shared past, rather than a coincidence. Offering a careful interpretation, HELLO!'s Fashion and Beauty Editor Laura Sutcliffe suggested, “The royals wear a carefully curated wardrobe that is meticulously planned out ahead of every occasion.” She further added that wearing a formal suit to such events is the standard; there is usually careful intention behind the details. In this context, she suggested, Harry wearing something associated with his elder brother “could be an attempt to subtly reach out to him.” Sutcliffe also opined, “It shows how special their union once was, and perhaps he is hoping to ignite it.”
Whether Harry’s tie carried a secret message for William or not remains open to interpretation. What is beyond dispute, however, is that the Prince of Wales was mentioned directly in his witness statement. The Duke of Sussex named his brother and sister-in-law, Kate Middleton, as people he was in regular contact with during the period central to his claims. This has added more to the ongoing speculation of a possible royal reunion. William, however, is said to have other plans. Much to the dismay of many, there has been no suggestion of meetings with senior royals while Harry is in the UK. In fact, William is 120 miles away fulfilling his royal engagements in Scotland, alongside Middleton.
As the high-stakes case concluded its third day, all eyes are on the Sussexes as well as the wider Royal Family. With the monarchy trying its best to distance itself from Harry and his legal entanglements, only time will tell whether they’ll ever be able to mend their fractured relationships or not. However, the tie surely gave everyone something to talk about in the meantime.