Prince Harry Skipped Court for Princess Lilibet's Birthday, and the Judge Is Mad

• Prince Harry missed the first day of one of his U.K. media lawsuits to attend his daughter Princess Lilibet's birthday.

• The judge reprimanded Harry's lawyer for his client ignoring the judge's request that he appear in court on Monday.

• The lawyer responded that Harry's situation is unique, given the complex nature of his travel arrangements and security needs.

You know those scenes in every 1990s family movie where the dad who's usually missing every event important of his kid's life finally decides that family matters more? You know where he tosses the cell phone he was always using into the ocean, and an upbeat song by a '70s artist having a '90s career revival plays as he runs to a soccer game or dance recital or birthday party?

Well, Prince Harry just had a moment like that. Sort of.

The Duke of Sussex skipped something so that he could be there for Princess Lilibet's second birthday on Sunday, June 4. Except instead of a big job, it was a court appearance requested by a judge. And instead of him throwing a cell phone into the ocean, it's actually him suing Mirror Group Newspapers for allegedly hacking his cell phone. And instead of an upbeat song from a '70s artist, maybe it's that song he strangely recorded a few years ago with Bon Jovi, the '80s artist who had a 2000s comeback:

Now, unsurprisingly, the court did not take too kindly to Prince Harry snubbing the requested appearance. Newsweek explains the situation thusly:

As for Harry's absence on June 5, his lawyer David Sherborne explained, "The Duke of Sussex is attending tomorrow to give evidence. He flew yesterday evening from Los Angeles. He was attending his daughter's birthday." He also noted of his client "he is in a different category to the three other defendants because he has to make travel arrangements as such and security arrangements as such."

Sir Fancourt stated that he was "a little surprised" by this, considering that there was a possibility Prince Harry would have needed to present evidence on June 5, hence why Fancourt requested his presence. "That's why I directed that the first witness should be available. It's a matter for the defendant whether they open [make an opening speech] at all," Fancourt said, though he resigned himself to the fact that "...it appears there may not be very much done about it."

As you'd expect, the attorney for Mirror Group Newspapers was displeased with the absence, expressing concern that they might not have enough time to cross examine Prince Harry due to his absence on Monday. To that, Sir Fancourt reassured the attorney that more time would be provided if needed.

And indeed, time seems to be the key subject when it comes to gifts for Princess Lilibet. On the part of her mother, Meghan Markle, it's a valuable time piece that she's had for almost a decade that she plans to gift her daughter in the future. And for her father, Prince Harry, his gift is his time, right now, even at the possible expense of his court case.

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