An offer for Prince Harry to stay at Buckingham Palace during his upcoming visit to the United Kingdom has been withdrawn shortly after he formally accepted it. A representative for the Duke of Sussex described the situation as "disappointing."
According to the Duke's spokesperson, multiple briefings from Buckingham Palace the previous week had indicated that Harry had not accepted the offer of accommodation. Following a decision by RAVEC not to provide security for his family, Prince Harry spent the week making alternative security arrangements. Once these arrangements were in place, he was able to formally accept the accommodation offer for himself over the weekend.
However, the palace cited the impending judgment in a legal case involving Associated Newspapers Limited as a reason for withdrawing the offer. Prince Harry's representative noted that the palace had been aware of the potential judgment since the previous Thursday, questioning why the offer was withdrawn at such a late stage after formal acceptance.
Conversely, reports from the BBC indicated that Prince Harry's team had failed to confirm their acceptance of the accommodation and formally declined the invitation on Saturday. Later that same day, the palace claimed Harry's team changed their minds and accepted, but it was deemed too late to make arrangements. Buckingham Palace then notified the Duke of Sussex on Saturday evening that he could not stay at the residence.
The BBC also reported that the palace was concerned the outcome of Harry's case against publishers of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday could potentially compromise King Charles III's constitutional position. The Duke's team maintained that the palace was aware of the timing of the court judgment for the past week.
Prince Harry's visit to London was scheduled to begin Tuesday, where he was expected to promote the Invictus Games and engage in other charitable events. He had initially planned to bring his wife, Meghan Markle, and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, but they were denied taxpayer-funded security. Despite these security concerns, Prince Harry was reportedly exploring all available options to bring his family with him. He and Markle have not brought their children to England since 2022, following their departure from royal duties in 2020.