Prince Harry’s courthouse appearance in London sparked online chatter, not for his trial, but for his noticeably thinning hair. Social media users contrasted it with Meghan Markle’s nostalgic video, dubbing him “alarmingly bald” and fueling memes and jokes.
Prince Harry’s bald look outside London court shock netizens
London: Prince Harry made headlines on Monday, not for his ongoing legal battle, but for his noticeably thinning hair. The Duke of Sussex appeared at London’s High Court to continue his trial against media group Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), yet online attention quickly shifted to his courthouse appearance.
Harry, along with six other prominent UK figures, filed the lawsuit in October 2022, accusing ANL of phone hacking, unauthorized surveillance, and other unlawful information-gathering practices. Years after the initial filing, the case has finally reached the trial stage, drawing significant media coverage.
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Despite the serious legal proceedings, netizens fixated on Harry’s receding ginger hair. His look was widely contrasted with a recent “throwback” post shared by his wife, Meghan Markle, on January 17. The post, part of the popular “10 years ago” trend, included black-and-white photos and a video showing the couple during early dates in Botswana. In the footage, Harry appeared to have a fuller head of hair.
Umm did Harry leave his hair in Montecito? 👀 Because Meghan’s “recent” video shows him with plenty of hair, but in the UK today he’s alarmingly bald… so either that clip is OLD or he forgot to carry his hair 😭🤣 pic.twitter.com/RGRgXYvlv7
— Queen Esther (@XOQueenEsther) January 19, 2026
Meghan’s caption read, “When 2026 feels just like 2016… you had to be there,” highlighting the nostalgia of their early relationship.
Social media erupted with humorous comments, memes, and speculation. “Umm did Harry leave his hair in Montecito? Because Meghan’s video shows him with plenty of hair, but in the UK today he’s alarmingly bald,” quipped one user. Others suggested he “just shave it” or joked about spray-on hair being confiscated by TSA. Some speculated Meghan’s video might be older, saved to distract from current news.
Several users also compared Harry’s hair situation to that of his elder brother, Prince William, who has been public about his own hair loss. Many highlighted the irony, given Harry’s past comments on William’s thinning hair.
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Since stepping back from royal duties in 2020, Harry and Meghan reside in Montecito, California, where they raise their two children: Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4. While the couple maintains relative privacy, they occasionally share family moments and philanthropic initiatives with the public.
Monday’s courthouse appearance may have been meant to focus attention on a significant legal matter, but social media clearly had other plans, making Harry’s hair the talk of the town.
