Prince Harry misses King Charles: King tours village in Romania during son’s court appearance

King Charles ignored the furor over Prince Harry’s dramatic High Court appearance by spending some time in a Romanian village on Tuesday.

The King looked in high spirits as he waved to onlookers while visiting Viscri village in the central Transylvania region of Romania on a solo trip. 

He was surrounded by security as locals lined up eagerly to take photos of him. 

It is the monarch’s first time travelling abroad since he was crowned on May 6 and his trip will take place over five days. 

The King’s holiday was a world away from the scenes that surrounded Harry, who today became the first royal in the witness box in more than a century while giving evidence at a London phone hacking trial.

The monarch owns at least 10 properties in Romania, and it has become an annual tradition for Charles to visit the country

It is the monarch’s first time travelling abroad since he was crowned on May 6 and his trip will take place over five days

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, walks into the High Court today where he will give evidence – the first royal for more than a century

Surrounded by security, King Charles arrives in the village of Viscri, central Transylvania, Romania

Harry and three others are suing the Mirror group claiming the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and The People newspaper hacked their phones or conducted other illegal activity, which is denied. 

In a dramatic appearance on Tuesday, Harry was accused of being ‘in the realms of total speculation’ by Andrew Green, KC for Mirror Group Newspaper. 

Mr Green told the court that information in stories that Harry claims contained details from hacked voicemails actually came from other media outlets, including the BBC, as well as press releases, palace statements and even public comments made by his mother Princess Diana.

At one stage, Harry also said he was ‘not sure’ whose phone was hacked when he broke his thumb playing football at Eton and it appeared in the press. 

The King’s youngest son later speculated that his father may have had his voicemails intercepted when questioned on a Mirror article titled ‘Harry’s cocaine, ecstasy and GHB parties’, which claimed his father was ‘worried sick’ about his son.

The Duke of Sussex jetted into the UK from California on Monday and looked relaxed and even smiled as he entered the High Court’s modern annexe – the Rolls Building – saying ‘good morning’ to the waiting press.

Yesterday he was criticised by one of Britain’s top judges and accused of wasting court time after missing the first day of his historic case – to celebrate his daughter Lilibet’s birthday in Montecito before flying to Britain.

Charles was surrounded by security as locals lined up eagerly to take photos of him

In the past, Charles has spoken fondly of the country and his time in the Carpathian Mountains, saying the land is ‘in his blood’

Inhabitants of Viscri village wave to King Charles as he arrives in the village on Tuesday

A cow passes by King Charles’ house in Viscri as a security guard checks the invited guests on his list shortly before the king’s arrival

The monarch’s maternal great-great-great grandmother, Klaudia Rhedey, was born and brought up in the region

The King looked relaxed as he met with local royal fans ahead of his break in Romania this afternoon

King Charles was seen laughing with some locals, as he held a bouquet of wild flowers a fan handed to him

A shop owner proudly showed their fabric and a scarves to the monarch, who took a keen interest in the products

It is Harry’s first trip to the UK since his flying visit for the King’s coronation. 

However, he will only be in court for two days, meaning he is expected to miss his father, who will stay in Romania for five days. 

The monarch owns at least 10 properties in Romania, and it has become an annual tradition for Charles to visit the country for a walking holiday. 

In the past, Charles has spoken fondly of the country and his time in the Carpathian Mountains, saying the land is ‘in his blood’.

The sovereign looked dapped in his tan suit with silk pocket square, matched with a shirt and a red tie

The King was seen laughing with the president of the Mihai Eminescu Trust Foundation, Caroline Fernolend

The King appeared relaxed as he and Caroline exited the fortified evangelical church in in the village of Viscri

The happy monarch delighted royal well-wishers with a wave during his visit to Viscri this afternoon

The royal was gifted a bouquet of wild flowers during his walkabout in the small Romanian village

He said during his visit last June: ‘There is a sense of age-old continuity here. A virtuous circle where man and nature are in balance.’ 

Charles has familial ties with Transylvania, thought to be a descendant of Vlad the Impaler – also known as Vlad Dracula – who claimed to have killed 23,000 people during battles against the Ottoman Empire. 

The real-life Dracula’s name is said to have been the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel.

The monarch’s maternal great-great-great grandmother, Klaudia Rhedey, was also born and brought up in the region.

Klaudia, a Hungarian speaker, married into German royalty and was known as the Princess of Teck. Her granddaughter, Queen Mary, was wife to George V and Charles’s great-grandmother. 

Charles is cheered by supporters as he arrives in Viscri village in Romania, where he owns a holiday home

Charles has familial ties with Transylvania, thought to be a descendant of Vlad the Impaler

King Charles greets children as he exits the fortified evangelical church in the village of Viscri, central Transylvania

The King was seen chatting with local children and a volunteer after his visit of the Evangelical church 

Charles holds a bouquet of wild flowers he received from a fan after arriving in the village

The King owns ten properties throughout the Romanian region, which he bought in the late 1990s. Pictured: His holiday home in Viscri

The monarch has spoken fondly of the country, saying it’s ‘in his blood’

Charles bought his estate in Valea Zalanului, Szeklerland, in the 1990s and now rents it out as a nature retreat to those wanting to explore the Zalán Valley and the surrounding mountains.

The guest house he will stay at is situated near to the village of Viscri, and is decorated with traditional antique Transylvanian furniture and textiles.

There are no televisions or radios in any of the rooms, just books, and guests are expected to dine together.

Daily activities on offer include horse riding, walks through a wildflower meadow named after Prince George, and trips to the nearby mineral pools.

The King has visited Romania numerous times and set up the Prince of Wales Foundation Romania to support the development of farming, traditional skills and the preservation of historic buildings.

Prices range from about £100 to £300 a night depending on the size of room and whether or not guests have chosen full or half-board.