Prince Harry’s team initially claimed he would be staying at Buckingham Palace during his upcoming UK visit, but recent developments indicate that he will not. The Duke of Sussex is set to travel to the UK for events related to the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham. Although he was offered accommodation at Buckingham Palace, it has now been revealed that this option is no longer available.
The palace, known for its 52 royal and guest bedrooms, requires significant staff and security arrangements when hosting a member of the Royal Family. Due to the unavailability of suitable accommodation, Prince Harry’s team had to make alternative security arrangements, leading to the withdrawal of the accommodation offer.
The decision to rescind the accommodation offer was reportedly influenced by an upcoming legal judgment related to a case involving the Daily Mail publishers. Despite this setback, Prince Harry is scheduled to visit the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London during his UK trip. Originally, he had planned to bring his wife Meghan Markle and their children for their first family visit to the UK in four years, but the lack of police protection for the family has now put those plans in question.
The Duke’s access to police protection was revoked in 2022 when he and Meghan Markle stepped back from royal duties and moved to the US. Despite previous concerns about safety, Prince Harry had accepted the offer to stay at a royal residence during this trip, a departure from his past refusals to stay in such accommodations during visits to the UK.
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen whether Meghan and the children will join Prince Harry later in the week for the Invictus event, given the challenges with security arrangements. The Duke’s interactions with the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (RAVEC) regarding security protocols have been a point of contention, especially as he navigates the complexities of balancing his personal safety with his royal responsibilities.
