King Refuses to Cancel Hiking Trip as Prince Harry Prepares for High Court Testimony

Prince Harry is set to return to the High Court in early June as he takes legal action against Mirror Group newspapers MGN over allegations of phone hacking.

However, his father, King Charles, has chosen to proceed with his planned solo trip to Romania next week, which coincides with Harry's court appearance.

This means that the father and son are unlikely to have the opportunity to meet.

A source close to the Royal Family reveals that Harry had been in contact with King Charles regarding his trip and had hoped that both his father and brother could testify in court, confirming that the Royal Family had fallen victim to phone hacking, including Harry himself.

Despite Harry's plea, King Charles remained committed to his original plans.

It is worth noting that King Charles III, much like Queen Elizabeth II, has a meticulously organized schedule that is planned months in advance, leaving little room for spontaneous changes.

Therefore, it is understandable why he would not cancel a long-arranged trip to his property in Romania solely because of Harry's court case.

Additionally, Prince William, Harry's brother, will not be involved in the proceedings as he has previously been accused by Harry of having a secret agreement with MGN.

Harry's attempt to involve his brother in the case can be seen as a desperate move to gain an advantage.

Holding any member of the Royal Family accountable in court puts them on an equal footing with ordinary individuals.

Any mistakes made by the royals during the trial would face harsh judgment from the nation, as the standards of behavior expected from them are significantly higher than what we have witnessed from Harry and Meghan.

Furthermore, King Charles III's decision to be out of town while Harry is in the UK is a strategic move.

By doing so, he ensures that the media cannot be manipulated by Harry and Meghan's speculative claims in an attempt to manifest a reconciliation.

The upcoming trip to Romania serves as a chance for the King to recuperate after his recent coronation, and he will spend his time in his rural Transylvania home.

Although the Queen will not accompany him on this trip, she will remain in her Wiltshire residence.

During his annual visit to Transylvania, the King indulges in activities such as hiking in the hills, painting, and immersing himself in books during the evenings.

Meanwhile, Prince Harry is expected to give his testimony in person at the MGN trial in London next week.

This will place him directly against former Mirror editor Piers Morgan, who has become one of the Sussexes' most vocal critics.

The evidence presented in Harry's claim is anticipated to span three days, including opening statements, his time in the witness box, cross-examination, and testimonies from MGN's witnesses.

He is one among several prominent figures seeking damages from the newspaper group for alleged unlawful information gathering across its publications.

In a previous instance, Prince Harry blamed the Royal Family for the delay in filing a phone-hacking lawsuit against the publisher of the Daily Mail.

Lawyers representing the newspaper argued that the case should be dismissed due to Harry's failure to file it promptly.