Prince Harry 'avoided royals and stayed with pals' during visit after eviction

02 April 2023 , 09:13

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Prince Harry arrives at the Royal Courts of Justice in London (Image: PA)

Prince Harry reportedly avoided meeting his family and instead stayed with friends while visiting London this week.

The Duke of Sussex travelled to the UK for the first time since it was announced that he and Meghan Markle have been told to vacate Frogmore Cottage.

The 38-year-old went to court to see if the phone hacking lawsuit he brought with Elton John and other celebrities can withstand a challenge from the publisher of The Daily Mail.

It is one of several brought by Harry in his battle with the press and alleges the publisher hired private investigators to illegally bug homes and cars and to record phone conversations.

Harry stayed with friends while in London, it has been reported (Humphrey Nemar.)

Sir Elton John leaves the Royal Courts of Justice (Getty Images)

A source told Fox News Digital that while visiting London, Harry stayed with some friends, not with his family.

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Christopher Andersen, author of the book The King: The Life of Charles III, said: "Harry's trip to London has one goal and one goal only – he is entirely focused on the legal cases he and Meghan Markle are pursuing against the UK press.

"He apparently has no plans to try and smooth things over with his brother, William, or his father, the king."

Royally Obsessed podcast host Roberta Fiorito added: "I also saw he could be staying with Princess Eugenie. Obviously, they're very close.

"It is a big question because he's out of Frogmore Cottage at the end of March, that timing would also work out."

Harry and Meghan arriving at the United Nations Headquarters in July (Getty Images)

It comes as tax records revealed that Harry and Meghan paid almost £90,000 to Michelle Obama's former press secretary.

The money was paid by the Archewell Foundation - Prince Harry and Meghan’s charitable organisation - to a PR company run by top US political spin doctor Katie McCormick Lelyveld.

Ms Lelyveld served as the former First Lady's press secretary from 2007 to 2011.

She has also been a PR adviser to Democratic grandees Hillary Clinton and former presidential candidate John Kerry.

The tax returns for Archewell show that £89,000 was paid to Ms Lelyveld’s company KMLSA LLC for “strategic support for social impact PR” in 2021.

Chiara Fiorillo