King Charles departed the capital today without meeting Prince Harry, despite the Duke of Sussex delivering a highly emotional testimony in court just two miles away.
The monarch spent his Wednesday morning at Lancaster House, adjacent to his Clarence House residence, participating in events focused on Indonesian conservation efforts.
Harry, meanwhile, was giving evidence in his legal battle against Associated Newspapers Limited, publisher of the Daily Mail.
The King is understood to have avoided his son in keeping with the convention that the sovereign should remain distanced from ongoing legal proceedings.
King Charles leaves London without meeting Prince Harry despite being just two miles away
|GETTY
Charles had been in Scotland earlier in the week when Harry returned to Britain.
The duke appeared close to tears after approximately two hours of testimony, his voice breaking as he addressed the court.
"They continue to come after me; they have made my wife's life an absolute misery," Harry said during proceedings against ANL.
The 41-year-old is among several high-profile claimants pursuing the newspaper group over allegations of unlawful information gathering. Sir Elton John, David Furnish, Baroness Doreen Lawrence, Sir Simon Hughes, Sadie Frost and Liz Hurley are also pursuing claims against ANL.
King Charles pictured leaving Lancaster House today
|PA
The claims centre on accusations that material for articles was obtained through illegal methods, including phone tapping and the "blagging" of private records.
ANL has firmly rejected any wrongdoing and continues to defend itself against all allegations.
Proceedings are scheduled to continue until March, when the trial is expected to conclude. A judgment will be delivered in written form at a subsequent date.
While his son faced intense questioning in court, the King was pictured smiling broadly alongside Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto at Clarence House following the conservation reception.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex leaves The Royal Courts of Justice | GETTYThe pair shared tea in the Grand Hall with representatives from the Peusangan Elephant Conservation Initiative and other environmental organisations.
Charles was spotted sheltering beneath a large black umbrella as he left, making light of the wet conditions as he bid farewell to the Indonesian leader.
"Sorry about the weather," the King quipped, drawing laughter from those present.
The roundtable discussions at Lancaster House focused on protecting Indonesia's biodiversity, including critically endangered Sumatran elephants and their forest habitats.
The Duke of Sussex, giving evidence in his legal battle against ANL, the Daily Mail's publisher, delivered an emotional statement about his wife
| PAFather and son are reportedly now in regular contact despite their troubled history, though they did not meet during this visit.
Their last reunion came in September, when Harry visited the UK and shared afternoon tea with Charles at Clarence House, later describing his father as "great" — their first meeting in 19 months.
The King, diagnosed with cancer in 2024, announced just over a month ago that his treatment schedule would be reduced from the new year, calling it a "personal blessing."
Queen Camilla was carrying out engagements in Cheltenham, joining Geri Halliwell-Horner to mark the 30th anniversary of cancer charity Maggie's.