A secret WhatsApp group used by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's communications team has drawn attention following a reported reversal of plans for their upcoming visit to Britain. Journalists who are members of this group reportedly received a detailed message on a Friday outlining the couple's itinerary, which was said to include their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
According to reports, the message indicated that the family would be staying at a royal residence, marking a significant detail given that King Charles reportedly rescinded their access to Frogmore Cottage in 2023. The initial notification suggested this would be the first time the children had been in Britain since the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022.
News outlets subsequently reported on the planned visit, citing information that indicated the couple would bring their children and stay in a royal residence. However, the narrative shifted the following day when reports emerged that Prince Harry's request for taxpayer-funded police protection during the visit had been denied by a Home Office committee.
Following this development, members of the WhatsApp group reportedly received a subsequent message stating that the initial information was incorrect and that Harry was reconsidering bringing his wife and children to the UK due to the security issue. This sequence of communications has led to criticism and confusion among those who reported the initial details.
Some journalists within the group have expressed their frustration, with one noting that the Home Office's decision on security was not new. The couple have reportedly not qualified for automatic, taxpayer-funded security since they relocated to North America in 2020 after stepping back from royal duties. A judge reportedly reiterated this in a ruling last year when Harry appealed the Home Office's decision.
One journalist, Tom Sykes of The Daily Beast, publicly stated that the entire rollout of the visit announcement, including assurances and detailed planning, appeared to be an attempt to influence the government's security decision through his father, King Charles. Sykes described this as an act of "emotional blackmail."
The situation has reportedly led to a loss of trust among some journalists who now question the reliability of information disseminated through the Sussexes' communications channels.