Prince Harry’s UK Visit Stalls Amid Royal Residence Dispute
Ahead of a series of charity engagements in the UK, a disagreement has erupted between Prince Harry’s team and Buckingham Palace over where he will stay.
Accommodation Dispute
King Charles III offered Prince Harry and his family accommodation at an unnamed royal residence. Buckingham Palace states that no formal response to this offer was received by a stated deadline of the previous Friday.
On Saturday, the palace claims the Duke's team gave multiple indications that the accommodation was unsuitable and formally declined the offer. After the offer was declined, the palace says a belated request from the Duke to stay was received, but by that point the necessary arrangements could no longer be made.
A spokesperson for Prince Harry provided a differing account, stating that the Duke believed he had accepted the invitation over the weekend, but the offer was subsequently withdrawn. The spokesperson cited Tuesday's expected judgment in Harry's legal case against Associated Newspapers Limited as a reason for the withdrawal, adding that the palace had been aware of the judgment's timing since the previous Thursday.
A royal source stated that a minimum notice period is required to properly host guests at the palace. The Duke's team initially declined the offer before requesting accommodation for the Duke alone, at which point palace officials said it was too late to organize the necessary hospitality and staffing.
Security Concerns
Prince Harry has expressed concerns about security in Britain since stepping back as a working royal and moving to California in January 2020. He is no longer entitled to taxpayer-funded police protection, and a request for such protection on this visit was denied. He previously lost a legal challenge against the Home Office on this matter.
Family Travel
The Duke's wife, Meghan Markle, and their two children, Archie (aged 7) and Lilibet (aged 5), will not accompany him to London. In May 2025, Prince Harry told the BBC: "I can't see a world in which I would be bringing my wife and children back to the UK at this point." Meghan has not traveled to the UK since Queen Elizabeth II's funeral in 2022. It remains unclear if the family will participate in other parts of the trip outside London. King Charles had initially offered accommodation for the family, but plans changed after the security request was denied.
Background
Prince Harry and Meghan stepped back from royal duties in 2020 and moved to the US.
They gave an interview to Oprah Winfrey in 2021, and Prince Harry's 2023 autobiography included claims of a physical altercation with his brother Prince William in 2019. Prince Harry and Prince William have reportedly not spoken since September 2022. Prince Harry met briefly with King Charles last year. It is currently unclear if Prince Harry will meet with King Charles during this visit.
Legal Case
Prince Harry and six other individuals are suing Associated Newspapers Limited over alleged phone hacking and unlawful information gathering. The judgment in this High Court case is expected to be published on Tuesday.
Upcoming Engagements
Prince Harry is visiting the UK to mark the one-year countdown to the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham and to carry out other charity engagements.