Prince Harry reportedly distancing himself from UK friends amid legal battle and royal tensions

Prince Harry is reportedly pulling back from many of his longtime UK friends, skipping the wedding of close confidant Lord Charles Vivian despite being invited, RadarOnline.com reports. The Duke of Sussex, 40, returned to the UK over the weekend of April 6 to continue his legal fight over taxpayer-funded security but did not attend Vivian’s ceremony or reunite with his father, King Charles.

Harry’s absence was especially notable given his longstanding friendship with Vivian. The 58-year-old PR executive helped coordinate several of Harry’s early charity trips to Africa, and the prince served as an usher at his first wedding. When asked why Harry didn’t attend the recent ceremony at Chelsea Old Town Hall in London, Vivian replied, “I don’t know. He has a lot on.”

His absence from the wedding came during a solo visit to London focused on his legal dispute over security arrangements in the UK. Meghan Markle remained in the U.S. with their children while Harry's visit briefly overlapped with King Charles’ schedule—though the two did not meet before the monarch departed for a state visit to Italy.

The trip follows Harry’s ongoing court battle seeking public funding for personal security during UK visits, despite stepping back from royal duties in 2020. It also comes on the heels of his legal victory against News Group Newspapers (NGN), which admitted to hiring private investigators to collect information about him between 1996 and 2011. The settlement, reportedly exceeding $12 million, concluded a six-year case.

Amid his ongoing legal efforts, Harry’s absence from personal milestones and family engagements has fueled speculation about growing distance from his former social circle and the royal family. As he continues to assert his independence, Harry appears focused on legal battles and redefining his public role.