Prince Harry ‘has arrived back home in California’ after spending three nights ‘in Frogmore Cottage for the last time’ during High Court trial
- The Duke of Sussex, 38, returned to London this week to give evidence in trial
- But he returned to US after three-night stay, opting against extending his UK trip
Prince Harry has reportedly arrived back home in California after spending three nights at Frogmore Cottage – as he gave evidence in the phone hacking trial at the High Court.
The Duke of Sussex, 38, returned to London this week to give evidence across two days as part of his lawsuit against Mirror Group Newspapers for damages over alleged hacking and other means of deception.
But after concluding his evidence on Wednesday, Harry is said to have opted against extending his stay at Frogmore Cottage and departed for his home in the US.
He is also understood not to have met with his father King Charles, nor brother Prince William, during his stay, The Telegraph reports.
Staying with his security team, the short stay marked what is likely to have been Harry’s final nights in the Windsor property, having been evicted by his father just 24 hours after the release of his bombshell memoir Spare.
The Duke of Sussex (pictured leaving the High Court), 38, returned to London this week to give evidence in his phone hacking trial
After concluding his evidence on Wednesday, Harry is said to have opted against extending his stay at Frogmore Cottage (pictured)
Harry and Meghan pictured kissing in the kitchen of Frogmore Cottage in footage from their Netflix documentary
Despite being given until the early summer to leave the property, the Sussexes are understood not to be planning to visit the UK before then.
Harry flew to the UK to attend the High Court proceedings on Sunday night after celebrating Princess Lilibet of Sussex’s second birthday.
But he was accused of wasting court time after missing the first day of his historic case on Monday.
An exasperated judge rebuked the duke’s barrister when it became clear the royal witness was ‘unavailable’
The Mirror’s KC Andrew Green said it was ‘absolutely extraordinary’ that Harry was ‘not available for day one of his trial’.
Mr Justice Fancourt said he was ‘a little surprised’ that Harry was not there, and admonished Mr Sherborne for causing ‘timetable chaos’.
The duke appeared close to tears as he finished his historic day and a half of answering questions at the court on Wednesday afternoon.
The Duke of Sussex is suing MGN for damages over claims journalists used hacking, ‘blagging’ and other illegal means of deception
Prince Harry seen in a court sketch giving evidence at the High Court in London for a second day
During a turbulent final few hours in the witness box, the duke volunteered details of his chequered love life including a trip to a strip club.
The duke is suing MGN for damages over claims journalists used hacking, ‘blagging’ and other illegal means of deception to write 140 articles published over a 24-year period between 1996 and 2010.
MGN is contesting Harry’s claims and has either denied or not admitted that articles about Harry being examined at the trial involved phone hacking or unlawful activity.
Meanwhile, the controversial fly-on-the-wall documentary series featuring the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for Netflix has been postponed until next year, following the widespread backlash over The Crown.
Harry and Meghan had been working on the series as part of their rumoured $100 million (£88million) deal with the streaming giant.
But with The Crown accused of fabricating a ‘hurtful’ smear against King Charles by depicting him secretly plotting to oust the Queen, Netflix has now pushed it back.