Prince Harry’s latest trip to the United Kingdom has been overshadowed by fresh royal drama after an invitation for him to stay at Buckingham Palace was withdrawn just days before his arrival.
The Duke of Sussex traveled to London alone for a week of engagements tied to the upcoming Invictus Games and to receive a highly anticipated High Court ruling in his legal battle against Associated Newspapers.
Meghan Markle did not accompany him, and neither did Prince Archie, 7, or Princess Lilibet, 5, after the family was denied taxpayer-funded police protection for the visit.
According to a statement from Prince Harry’s spokesperson, the duke formally accepted an invitation to stay at a royal residence over the weekend after finalizing alternative private security arrangements.
“I am aware of multiple briefings from Buckingham Palace last week suggesting that the Duke had not accepted the offer of accommodation at a Royal Residence.”
© Pool“Following RAVEC’s decision not to provide security for his family, the Duke spent last week making alternative security arrangements. Once those arrangements were in place, he was able to formally accept the offer of accommodation for himself over the weekend,” the spokesperson added.
The statement went on to express frustration that the accommodation offer was later revoked.
“It is therefore disappointing that the offer has now been withdrawn, with Tuesday’s judgment in the Associated Newspapers Limited case cited as the reason. Buckingham Palace has, however, been aware of that judgment since last Thursday. It is therefore unclear why, having formally accepted the accommodation offer, it has now been withdrawn at the last moment.”
© Getty ImagesHowever, Buckingham Palace has presented a different version of events.
Royal sources said Prince Harry had been asked to confirm whether he would accept the invitation by the end of last week so Royal Household staff could prepare the necessary accommodations.
Palace officials maintain that the duke did not respond before the deadline and initially declined the invitation on Saturday before later changing his mind. By then, they say, it was no longer possible to accommodate him.
© Max Mumby/IndigoIn addition to staffing logistics, palace sources also cited concerns surrounding the High Court judgment scheduled for Tuesday, July 7, in Prince Harry’s lawsuit against Associated Newspapers.
Officials reportedly believed that allowing the duke to stay at Buckingham Palace while awaiting the ruling could create constitutional complications for King Charles III, who must remain politically neutral while legal proceedings are ongoing.
The conflicting accounts have once again highlighted the strained relationship between the Sussexes and the royal household, with both sides publicly disputing what happened behind palace walls.
© Max Mumby/IndigoThe visit itself carries significance beyond the accommodation controversy.
Prince Harry is in the UK to mark the one-year countdown to the 2027 Invictus Games, which will be held in Birmingham, while also attending charity engagements throughout the week.
His family, however, remains in California. Harry and Meghan had hoped to bring Archie and Lilibet back to Britain for the first time since 2022, but concerns over security ultimately changed those plans.
© Getty ImagesThe Duke of Sussex has repeatedly argued that the current security arrangements are insufficient for his family following the decision by the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (RAVEC) not to restore taxpayer-funded police protection after he stepped back as a senior working royal in 2020.
Although King Charles had offered accommodation on a royal estate, Harry’s team previously noted that the security provided inside royal residences would not extend beyond the property, prompting them to explore alternative protection options before confirming his travel plans.
Since being asked to vacate Frogmore Cottage in 2023, Prince Harry no longer has a permanent royal residence in the United Kingdom, making accommodation and security recurring issues whenever he returns for official engagements or court proceedings.
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