Prince Harry is said to remain keen to spend time with King Charles during his visit to Britain this week, despite an offer for him to stay overnight at Buckingham Palace reportedly being withdrawn.
According to a source close to the Invictus Games in Birmingham, Meghan Markle is also determined to travel to the UK in the coming days, even as questions over security and accommodation continue to fuel tensions.
The insider claimed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex still hope to bring their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, to Britain as well, as long as the visit “can happen safely.”
A spokesman confirmed on Monday afternoon that the 41-year-old Duke of Sussex had arrived in the UK, as the dispute surrounding his plans continued to unfold.
The trip was thrown into fresh uncertainty just hours before Harry was due to land, following more than a week of back-and-forth over arrangements, when he was told he would no longer be able to stay at Buckingham Palace.
Royal officials are understood to have informed Harry on Saturday night, yet around 36 hours later, his team publicly stated that he would be staying at the Palace.
The Duke was reportedly told he had taken too long to accept the King’s invitation. His spokesman responded sharply, releasing a statement that accused the Palace of withdrawing the offer “at the last moment.”
Even so, sources suggest Harry still wants to see his father and remains hopeful that Meghan and their children may be able to join him in the UK when he travels from London to Birmingham later this week.
Harry and Meghan, pictured at Invictus in 2023 in Germany, still hope to be at ‘year to go’ events in Birmingham later this week
The Duke of Sussex would also love Archie and Lilibet to be in the UK this week – but only if it can be done safely
‘Harry is still keen to see Charles, which he is looking forward to,’ the Mail’s insider said.
Meghan is also still expected at Invictus events in Birmingham, with the Games only a year away on Friday.
The Sussexes have been holidaying in Europe and it is not out of the question that Archie and Lilibet will join them, potentially flying in and out of the UK in 24 hours.
‘They are working on ways that this can happen safely,’ the source said.
Harry had been hoping his wife and children would accompany him to the UK for five days.
His visit coincides with the countdown to his Invictus Games in Birmingham in 2027.
The trip was set to include a visit to King Charles as well as a poignant stop at Althorp Estate in Northamptonshire, where Harry’s mother, Princess Diana, is buried.
Archie and Lilibet have not seen their grandfather since their last trip to Britain in June 2022 for Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
As exasperation appeared to grow on both sides over the trip, it is understood the duke initially turned down the offer of staying at Buckingham Palace for himself and his family, who are no longer accompanying him to London, on Saturday, before making a U-turn later in the day and asking to stay himself.
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The appropriate hospitality and staffing provision was said to be no longer available.
The duke wanted to stay at the Palace for one night, it is understood.
Questions have been raised on the Sussex side as to whether the offer of a bed at a royal residence was ever intended to be available once Harry had accepted it.
Private conversations are said to have taken place between the duke and his father.
A spokesman for the duke said: ‘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.
‘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 spokesman added: ‘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.’
Amid the drama surrounding his son’s visit, King Charles appeared to enjoy himself riding in a British Army Challenger 3 battle tank in Bovington, Dorset, on Monday
The decision by the Palace was said to have been taken in consultation with the King, with outcome communicated to Harry through the appropriate channels.
Accommodation at a royal residence will be made available to Harry and his family for future visits, it is understood.
At the weekend, it was announced Meghan, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet would no longer be joining Harry in London amid concern over their security.
No decision has been made as to whether the family will join the duke for other parts of the UK visit outside of the capital.
Harry had also been hoping to reunite his children with their grandfather the King, who is still undergoing treatment for cancer, for the first time in four years, but it is not clear whether this will go ahead.
It is also not yet known for sure if and when Harry will see his father during his trip. Although both father and son are said to be keen.
The King has a busy run of engagements this week, while Harry is carrying out five days of appearances in London and Birmingham, including marking the one year countdown to the 2027 Invictus Games.
The duke had been waiting for a review by the Risk Management Board (RMB), part of the process by which the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec) rules on his security requirements, but found out on Friday this has yet to take place.
The Sussex family were not eligible to receive taxpayer-funded protection while in the UK, other than when they were within royal residences.
The duke criticised his father Charles, stepmother the Queen, brother the Prince of Wales and sister-in-law the Princess of Wales in his Oprah interview, Netflix documentary, interviews and his autobiography Spare, after stepping down from the working monarchy six years ago.
