Prince William and Kate Middleton will be hundreds of miles from London when Prince Harry arrives in the U.K. capital next week, as the royal couple heads to Scotland for official engagements while the Duke of Sussex appears in the High Court for his trial against Associated Newspapers.
The Prince and Princess of Wales plan to visit Scotland on January 20, while Harry is expected to testify on January 22. The timing places the Prince and Princess of Wales far from the capital during Harry’s legal battle.
Harry returns to Britain for the opening of his trial against Associated Newspapers, publisher of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday. The duke joins several prominent figures in the lawsuit, including Elton John, Elizabeth Hurley, and Sadie Frost, alleging the media company engaged in illegal information gathering.
Associated Newspapers denies all allegations, calling them “absurd smears.”
William and Kate will visit the National Curling Academy in Stirling to meet with Great Britain’s Olympic and Paralympic curling teams ahead of upcoming Winter Games competitions. The Waleses, whose Scottish titles are the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay, will visit the National Curling Academy in the city on Tuesday.
Following their visit to the curling facility, William and Kate will travel to Radical Weavers, a working handweaving studio and independent charity in Stirling that aims to tackle social isolation and support people affected by trauma and loss by offering them the chance to learn Scottish tartan-weaving skills.
The scheduled engagement marks another public appearance for the royal couple, who made their first joint outing of the year when they visited Charing Cross Hospital in West London earlier this month. During that visit, Kate introduced her husband simply as William to patients and staff, forgoing royal titles.
Harry’s trial against Associated Newspapers represents the final legal step in his series of lawsuits against British media outlets. The duke and his co-claimants allege the publisher hired private investigators and committed various alleged wrongdoing, including tapping phone calls and impersonating individuals to obtain medical information.
Harry is expected to testify for a full day on Thursday, January 22, according to draft trial timetables. Harry previously secured victories in similar cases against other British publications, winning £140,600 in damages from Mirror Group Newspapers.
King Charles will also be in Scotland during Harry’s visit, with an engagement scheduled at the Palace of Holyroodhouse on January 19. The monarch typically maintains distance from active court cases, making a meeting between father and son unlikely during this trip.
Harry last saw King Charles during a September visit to the U.K. The father and son spoke during that trip, ending a lengthy period without face-to-face contact.
The relationship between Harry and his brother William remains strained. The siblings last appeared publicly together at King Charles’s coronation in May 2023. They attended their maternal uncle’s funeral in August 2024, but reportedly did not speak or sit near each other.
Harry now resides in Montecito with his wife, Meghan Markle, and their two children, Prince Archie, six years old, and Princess Lilibet, four years old. The family has remained in California since Harry and Meghan stepped back from royal duties in 2020.
The duke’s security situation changed dramatically after he lost his taxpayer-funded protection when he ceased working as a senior royal. Harry previously stated he did not feel safe bringing his family to the U.K. without adequate security measures in place.
Kate recently hosted a reception celebrating the Red Roses rugby team following their Women’s Rugby World Cup victory on September 27, 2025. England defeated Canada 33-13 before a record crowd of 81,885 at Twickenham to claim their third World Cup title.
The princess completed chemotherapy treatment in September 2024 after her cancer diagnosis earlier that year. Kate has gradually returned to public duties, focusing on engagements that highlight connection and human relationships.
William and Kate’s visit to Stirling aims to “shine a spotlight on unique Scottish heritage traditions and how they are continuing to connect communities and inspire new generations,” Kensington Palace said. The couple’s trip takes them hundreds of miles away from home during the week in which the Duke of Sussex is set to be in London for his High Court trial.
The timing of the royal schedules places family members in different parts of Britain during Harry’s court appearance. Palace officials typically arrange royal engagements months in advance, though the coinciding dates ensure no reunion between the estranged relatives.
Harry’s legal battles against the British media continue as he pursues accountability for alleged privacy violations. The trial beginning next week will determine whether Associated Newspapers engaged in the unlawful practices alleged by Harry and the other claimants.