For the Duke of Sussex, this battle was deeply personal. He had committed to making his fight against the media outlets that wronged him and his loved ones his “life’s work.” While he didn’t get his day in court, the apology and substantial payout he received for the “serious intrusion” into his private life, and that of his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, provided some sense of closure last week.
“Harry fought for – and won – an apology for his mother,” his uncle, Earl Spencer, remarked afterward, adding, “She would be incredibly touched by that and justifiably proud.”
The settlement with News Group Newspapers now allows the Duke to focus on his next steps. Originally set to testify in mid-February, right after the 2025 Vancouver-Whistler Invictus Games, Harry can now return home to Meghan, Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3.
However, his legal battles are far from over. Harry is now preparing to take his fight for his family’s security to court in April, with a case that could prove pivotal in his relationship with his father, King Charles.
Harry’s legal team plans to appeal a High Court decision that upheld a Home Office ruling to reduce his security in the UK after he stepped back as a senior working royal in 2020.
A close friend shared: “Prince Harry’s goal is simple: he wants to ensure the safety of his family while in the UK, so his children can experience his homeland and he can continue supporting his patronages and their vital work.”
Harry has not brought his children to the UK since the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022, meaning King Charles has met his youngest granddaughter, Lilibet, only once. Harry reportedly believes his father should intervene to have his full security reinstated, but sources close to the King argue that it would be “wholly inappropriate” for him to challenge a government decision.
Could the deadlock finally be broken in the High Court this spring? If Harry succeeds in appealing the security ruling, it could pave the way for a reconciliation with his father and allow his children to visit the UK.
“The next case is crucial for him and his family,” said a source close to Harry. Last week’s court victory, while unrelated to his upcoming case, is said to have lifted his spirits. “It’s not the end of the story, but it’s a major chapter that’s been closed and resolved,” the source added.
