Prince Harry Narrowly Misses Crossing Paths With This Royal — and It's Not William
Prince Harry kept a low profile during his latest UK engagement, avoiding the spotlight after his major court defeat.
On day two of his highly anticipated UK visit, Prince Harry carried out solo engagements, including a trip to the Royal Hospital Chelsea to support the Invictus Games. The visit underscores Harry's long-standing connection to the hospital, which serves retired British Army veterans, and to which he has participated in events such as the Founder's Day Parade. However, there was a distinct shift in the Duke's demeanor today as he appeared to continue his philanthropic activities after facing defeat in the privacy case against the publisher of the Daily Mail. Interestingly, he also narrowly crossed paths with a fellow royal during the visit, though the two didn't actually meet.
According to PEOPLE, Prince Harry completely ignored the media. He attended private meetings related to the Invictus Games Foundation at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, avoiding reporters by entering through a side road just before 12:30 p.m. local time. This low-key reaction reflects his recent loss before the UK High Court. Yesterday, the court dismissed a significant privacy lawsuit by the Duke and six other high-profile individuals against Associated Newspapers, ruling that the claimants did not meet the burden of proof despite their suspicions of unlawful information gathering. Justice Nicklin highlighted that suspicion alone is not sufficient evidence. Harry described the verdict as a "complete and obvious whitewash." This ruling represents a major defeat in his legal struggles against British tabloids, with the claimants potentially facing legal costs of up to $66 million (£50 million), with a follow-up hearing planned for late July to discuss these costs and related matters.
The Duke had visited Chatham House on July 7, right when the verdict was delivered; however, HELLO! reported that he appeared shocked and delivered a shaky six-minute speech immediately after discovering he had lost his case. Additionally, he tried to mask his feelings by cracking a weather joke while addressing the audience. Additionally, the Duke didn't just dodge the media but also missed an opportunity to meet up with his stepmother, Queen Camilla. Apparently, the Queen was seen being driven past the hospital just 40 minutes before Harry's arrival, heading to Wimbledon for a surprise visit to the tennis tournament with her sister Annabel Elliot.
Similarly, William and Harry participated in separate engagements just 12 miles apart in London yesterday, with the Prince of Wales visiting a Welsh school and the Duke attending the Invictus Games Foundation event at Chatham House. While Harry remained focused on his charitable work, his solo visit also served as another reminder of the continuing distance between the Duke and the rest of the royal family.
