The year has changed, but the same royal chess match is back in play for Prince William and his estranged brother, Prince Harry and for many observers, the latest moves feel like a tired repeat of the same old script that will not benefit the monarchy.
Prince Harry will travel to London next week for the high-stakes opening of his trial against Associated Newspapers, and to deal with the Sussex media blitz, the Prince and Princess of Wales appear to have executed a familiar disappearing act.
The Great London Escape
As they have done in past years, Prince William and Kate Middleton have scheduled high-profile engagements that take them hundreds of miles away from the capital, exactly when the Duke of Sussex is set to touch down.
On January 21, 2026, while Harry enters the High Court to testify against the publisher of the Daily Mail, William and Kate will be on their great escape to Stirling, Scotland.
Their itinerary includes: The National Curling Academy: Meeting with Great Britain’s Olympic and Paralympic curling teams.
Radical Weavers: Visiting a handweaving studio that provides therapeutic heritage work for the local community.
PEOPLE Magazine shared the following report on the matter: “Prince Harry returns to London next week, but most of his family will be out of town. The Duke of Sussex, 41, will be back in the U.K. for the opening of his High Court trial, the final legal step in his series of lawsuits against Associated Newspapers. However, on Jan. 21, Prince William, 43, and Kate Middleton, 44, have a joint engagement in Scotland, taking them hundreds of miles from the English capital. The royal couple will first visit the National Curling Academy in Stirling to meet with Great Britain’s Olympic and Paralympic curling teams ahead of the upcoming Winter Olympic Games and Winter Paralympic Games. They will then visit Radical Weavers in Stirling, a working handweaving studio that doubles as a charity, where patrons learn about the heritage of Scottish tartan and benefit from the therapeutic qualities of weaving as they create blankets and textiles to give back to those in need. Meanwhile, Prince Harry is expected to be in court for most of the week, as he joins several high-profile figures, including pop star Elton John, actress Elizabeth Hurley, and Jude Law’s ex-wife Sadie Frost, in suing Associated Newspapers (ANL) — the publisher of the Daily Mail and the Mail on Sunday — for alleged illegal information gathering. Associated Newspapers has “vigorously” denied the allegations, the BBC previously reported.”
It has been confirmed that Prince Harry will not meet his father, King Charles III, while in London; however, no reason has been given.
In the coming days, King Charles’s busy schedule and health issues will be cited as reasons he will not be able to see Prince Harry.
“Childish” or Calculated?
Some, who once championed the Waleses’ stoicism and professionalism, questioned the timing of the trip to Scotland. It has also led to heavy criticism, with some now labeling the move as “laughable and childish,” arguing that as future leaders, Prince William and Princess Kate should have the “backbone” to stay in their own territory and face little Prince Harry. By “fleeing” to Scotland, the couple risks looking weak and reactive rather than authoritative.
With one person noting on social media: “They are adults. They can be in the same country and not bump into each other. Constant evasion only makes Harry look like the one winning the optics war.”
Harry’s High-Stakes Week
While his family heads north, Prince Harry will be at the center of the world’s media gaze. Joined by figures like Elton John and Elizabeth Hurley, the Duke is pursuing the final legal step in his mission to hold the British press accountable for alleged illegal information gathering.
A Father’s Silence: Much like William and Kate, King Charles is also expected to give his son a “wide berth.” The King reportedly remains in Scotland for the remainder of his winter break, citing a desire not to be linked to active court proceedings.
The Optics Problem
The consensus among some royal experts is that the “running away” strategy put in place by Prince William and Princess Kate has reached its expiration date.
By allowing Prince Harry to own the narrative in London while they “hide” in the Highlands, Prince William and Princess Kate are inadvertently ceding the limelight again — they made that same mistake during the summer, and Prince Harry dominated the headlines with his mini royal tour and was crowned rockstar royal for his visit, interviews, and many engagements.
The power couple, which has recently faced criticism “for not being seen or heard enough,” is being viewed by some as yet another PR misfire that prioritizes optics over authentic leadership.
