Prince Harry says he will not stay at Buckingham Palace during to his visit to the UK after his invitation was withdrawn “at the last moment”.
The Duke of Sussex had accepted an offer to stay at the royal residence after making alternative security arrangements over the weekend.
But a spokesperson for the duke said his offer was revoked ahead of the looming judgement in his case against the publisher of the Daily Mail, which is due on Tuesday.
The spokesperson told The Independent: “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.”
“It is therefore disappointing that the offer has now been withdrawn, with Tuesday’s judgment in the Associated Newspapers Limited case cited as the reason.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.”
The appropriate hospitality and staffing provision was said to be no longer available, with Buckingham Palace also believing the longstanding legal case had complicated the matter, and could compromise the King’s constitutional position.
Key Points
- Prince Harry will not stay at Buckingham Palace during stay
- Full statement: Duke reveals his offer to stay at Buckingham Palace 'withdrawn at last moment'
- Harry will not stay in any royal accommodation during visit
- Why is Harry in court with Daily Mail's publisher?
- A timeline of Harry's legal battle over taxpayer-funded security
Watch: Harry’s coming home and I know how William might be feeling
13:30 , Harriette Boucher
ICYMI: Full statement as duke reveals his offer to stay at Buckingham Palace 'withdrawn at last moment'
13:17 , Harriette Boucher
A spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex 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the offer of accommodation for himself over the weekend.It is therefore disappointing that the offer has now been withdrawn, with Tuesday’s judgment in the Associated Newspapers Limited case cited as the reason.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.”
All the changes to Harry's trip to the UK so far
12:53 , Harriette Boucher
The briefings for Prince Harry’s trip to the UK have changed significantly over the past two weeks due to the ongoing row over security for his family.
27 June - Harry and Meghan accepted an offer to stay in a royal residence during their visit, signifying an improving relationship with his father.
28 June - It is revealed that the Duke of Sussex was rethinking his decision to bring Meghan and his children to the UK after his request for police protection was denied.
1 July - It is announced that the judgment in Harry’s case against the publisher of the Daily Mail is due this Tuesday.
4 July - Meghan and the children revealed to not be accompanying the Duke of Sussex in London. It is not known if they join him for the rest of their trip.
6 July - Prince Harry’s spokesperson reveals that Buckingham Palace revoked its accommodation offer after the duke accepted it.
The spokesperson said Tuesday’s judgment was cited as the reason behind Buckingham Palace’s decision to withdraw the offer.
Comment: Prince Harry’s coming home – and I know how William might be feeling
12:33 , Harriette Boucher
As Prince Harry plans to return to the UK with Meghan and their children, Archie and Lilibet, William and Kate are reportedly not happy. I totally understand, says Charlotte Cripps, who is dreading being reunited with her half-siblings over the summer:
Prince Harry’s coming home – and I know how William might be feeling
A timeline of Harry's legal battle over taxpayer-funded security
12:11 , Harriette Boucher
Prince Harry has been in an ongoing legal battle with the Home Office over his security arrangements for him and his family while they are in the UK.
He announced over the weekend that he would not bring his family to London after his request for taxpayer-funded security was denied.
Here is a timeline of his security row:
February 2020
The Royal and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec) declare that Harry will not receive the same level of taxpayer-funded personal protection following his decision to step back from royal duties.
September 2021
Prince Harry seeks a judicial review against a refusal of the Home Office to allow him to personally pay for police protection when in the UK.
February 2022
At a preliminary hearing, Shaheed Fatima KC, representing the duke, told the High Court that Harry wanted to bring his children to visit from the US, but that he “does not feel safe” when visiting under the new security arrangements, citing the visit in June 2021.
The court also heard that Harry previously said he wanted to fund the security himself, rather than ask taxpayers to foot the bill.
But Robert Palmer KC, for the Home Office, said the offer of private funding was “irrelevant”.
May 2023
Harry attempted to bring a second legal challenge concerning his security arrangements, asking for a judicial review over the decision not to allow him to pay privately for his protection.
February 2024
Retired High Court judge Sir Peter Lane dismissed Harry’s claim, concluding Ravec’s approach was not irrational nor procedurally unfair.
April 2024
Sir Peter refused to give Harry the go-ahead to challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal.
June 2024
The Court of Appeal gave Harry the green light to challenge the ruling.
May 2025
Harry loses his legal challenge over the levels of security he and his family are entitled to.
Watch: Meghan and children will not join Harry as he arrives in London next week
11:46 , Harriette Boucher
Comment: What’s less likely to come home this summer, Prince Harry or the World Cup?
11:25 , Harriette Boucher
Prince Harry must be the only entitled millennial who doesn’t seem to have access to the bank of mum and dad – but that doesn’t mean I’m happy to foot the bill, says Victoria Richards:
What’s less likely to come home this summer, Prince Harry or the World Cup?
What's on Harry's itinerary during his visit to England?
11:08 , Harriette Boucher
Harry is visiting the UK to celebrate the one-year countdown to his Invictus Games, which is being hosted in Birmingham next July.
The Invictus Games is an international multi-sport event for wounded, injured and sick military service personnel.
The duke is set to participate in events and celebrations for the lead-up to the event.
His itinerary includes a visit to Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre (NEC), the primary venue for the 2027 Games.
He is expected to watch and take part in a series of exhibition events alongside competitors from previous Invictus Games.
Meghan was expected to accompany Harry on these outings, but is unclear whether she will now come to the UK.
Harry’s itinerary also include engagements with charities Scotty’s Little Soldiers, of which he is an ambassador, and WellChild, of which he is a patron.
He was also planning to take his children to visit the grave of their grandmother, Princess Diana, at Althorp House in Northamptonshire for the first time.
It is unclear if this will still go ahead.
In full: Meghan, Archie and Lilibet will not join Harry on trip to London
10:44 , Harriette Boucher
Meghan, Archie and Lilibet will not join Harry on trip to London
Harry was 'desperate' for children to see King Charles
10:35 , Harriette Boucher
Harry was said to be “desperate” for his children to see their grandfather in the UK in what would have been their first trip in four years.
A source close to Harry and Meghan accused the Home Office and the committee responsible for assessing their security of “wilfully creating conditions that are making it nearly impossible” for them to safely travel in the UK, The Telegraph reported last month.
His seven-year-old son, Archie, and five-year-old daughter, Lilibet, have not seen King Charles since since Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022.
It is not known whether the duke will still be seeing his father after he was told he could no longer stay at Buckingham Palace.
The pair last saw each other in September during tea at Clarence House.
Harry’s accepted invitation to stay at a royal residence was thought to signify improving relations between him and the King.
Why is Harry in court with Daily Mail's publisher?
10:20 , Harriette Boucher
Prince Harry has claimed that his invitation to stay at Buckingham Palace was revoked ahead of the expected judgement in his case against the publisher of the Daily Mail, which is due on Tuesday.
The Duke of Sussex, along with several other high-profile figures, launched legal action against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) over claims that the publisher carried out or commissioned unlawful activities such as hiring private investigators to place listening devices inside cars, “blagging” private records and accessing private phone conversations.
ANL firmly denies the “preposterous” allegations, which are being tried over nine weeks in London.
A spokesperson for Harry said Tuesday’s judgment in the case was cited as the reason the offer was rescinded.
“Buckingham Palace has, however, been aware of that judgment since last Thursday,” the spokesperson said.
“It is therefore unclear why, having formally accepted the accommodation offer, it has now been withdrawn at the last moment.”
Harry will not stay in any royal accommodation during visit
10:11 , Harriette Boucher
Prince Harry will be staying in private accommodation for the entirety of his visit to England.
His spokesperson told The Independent that he will no longer stay at any royal residence after his offer to stay at the Buckingham Palace was rescinded.
The duke accepted an invitation last month to stay at a royal estate during his visit to the UK.
Full statement: Duke reveals his offer to stay at Buckingham Palace 'withdrawn at last moment'
10:05 , Harriette Boucher
A spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex 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.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.”
Prince Harry will not stay at Buckingham Palace during stay
10:02 , Harriette Boucher
Prince Harry will not stay at the Buckingham Palace during his stay in the UK.
The Duke of Sussex claimed that his invitation had been revoked after he accepted it over the weekend.
