Prince Harry seen visiting firefighters in California before settlement in high-profile court case announced

Prince Harry was seen visiting firefighters in California in new photos posted online just hours before his high-profile trial against a British tabloid was settled out of court.

The Duke of Sussex was seen greeting members of the Salinas Fire Department as well as the facility's dogs, Cruz and Taffy, who "have been actively assisting in the efforts to combat the LA fires".

The 40-year-old, who was dressed casually for the outing in cargos and a zip-up jumper, posed for photos with the group and spent some time patting the dogs.

READ MORE: Prince Harry settles lawsuit against British tabloid

"Cruz and Taffy, Facility Dog's (sic) with Salina's Fire Dept, along with their friends, have been actively assisting in the efforts to combat the LA fires, providing much-needed support to firefighters and affected communities," the fire department wrote on Instagram.

"In an inspiring turn of events, they also had the opportunity to meet Prince Harry, who is known for his philanthropic work and advocacy on various social issues, including disaster relief.

"This encounter not only boosted their morale but also emphasised the importance of community and collaboration in the face of such devastating challenges."

It's not the first time the Montecito local has offered his support to those combating the ongoing fires, which have become LA's worst natural disaster in history.

READ MORE: William goes into battle as Harry's court drama plays out

Harry, along with wife Meghan Markle, handed out food and hugs to those impacted by the Palisades fire two weeks ago outside the Pasadena Convention Centre, which has been repurposed as an evacuation site.

The Duchess of Sussex was also spotted at Altadena Girls - a fire relief centre for teens.

It's not known exactly when Prince Harry dropped in on the Salinas Fire Department but the photos were posted to social media on the day his high court trial against Rupert Murdoch's New Group Newspapers was set to begin.

Lawyers from both sides called for delays to the start of Tuesday's hearing as the parties held private out-of-court settlement discussions.

The Duke of Sussex was suing the publishers of The Sun and the now-defunct News of the World for unlawfully snooping on him over decades and was set to testify in the eight-week trial next month.

Then, on Wednesday came the bombshell announcement in London's High Court. News Group Newspapers offered a "full and unequivocal apology to the Duke of Sussex for the serious intrusion by The Sun between 1996 and 2011 into his private life, including incidents of unlawful activities carried out by private investigators working for The Sun," attorney David Sherborne read from the settlement statement in court.

Prince Harry hailed it a "monumental victory" with the tabloids making an unprecedented apology for intruding in his life over decades and also acknowledged intruding on the life of his mother, the late Princess Diana.

View gallery

All the defining photos of the British royal family in 2025

It was the first time News Group Newspapers has acknowledged wrongdoing at The Sun, a paper once known for featuring topless women on Page 3.

The 40-year-old royal and former Labour Party member of Parliament, Lord Tom Watson, were the only two remaining claimants out of more than 1300 others who had settled lawsuits against News Group Newspapers over allegations their phones were hacked and investigators unlawfully intruded in their lives.

- Reported with Associated Press.

FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.