Prince Harry arrived in the United Kingdom on Monday for a five-day visit that is expected to take place largely without his wife, Meghan Markle, and their two children after reports that they were denied police protection during the planned trip.
The visit, organised to commemorate the one-year countdown to the 2027 Invictus Games, was initially expected to mark the first time the Sussex family would return to Britain together in four years.
However, a source close to the Duke of Sussex disclosed over the weekend that Meghan, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet would not accompany him to London because security arrangements for the family could not be guaranteed.
According to the source, discussions regarding the remainder of the family’s travel itinerary were still ongoing, leaving uncertainty over whether Meghan and the children would later join Harry elsewhere in the UK while avoiding the capital.
The visit has also been overshadowed by conflicting statements regarding Prince Harry’s accommodation during his stay.
Just before his arrival, Buckingham Palace denied reports that the Duke would be staying there, stating that he had missed the deadline to accept the accommodation offer previously extended to him.
In response, Harry’s spokesperson expressed disappointment, saying the offer from his father, King Charles III, had been withdrawn unexpectedly.
“It is therefore unclear why, having formally accepted the accommodation offer, it has now been withdrawn at the last moment,” the spokesperson said.
The situation has fuelled speculation over whether Harry will meet King Charles during the visit.
The father and son are believed to have last met in September 2025 at Clarence House while the King continued treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer.
Prince Harry and Meghan stepped down as senior members of the British royal family in 2020 before relocating to North America, following a highly publicised rift with the monarchy.
Relations between Harry and the royal household further deteriorated after the publication of his memoir, Spare, alongside several legal battles involving the British media.
Despite the strained relationship, Harry has repeatedly expressed his desire to reconcile with his father and other members of the royal family.
His latest trip also coincides with a significant legal development in one of his ongoing disputes with the British press.
A ruling is expected on Tuesday in his lawsuit against Associated Newspapers, the publisher of the Daily Mail, over allegations of unlawful information gathering.
During the High Court proceedings earlier this year, Harry gave emotional testimony alongside several high-profile figures, including Elton John and Elizabeth Hurley, accusing the media company of invading their privacy.
The case represents the latest chapter in Harry’s long-running legal confrontation with sections of the British press.
Separate from the media litigation, the Duke has also pursued legal action concerning his security arrangements in the UK.
Last year, Harry stated that he could not safely bring his family to Britain after losing his bid to have publicly funded police protection reinstated during private visits.
According to his spokesperson, alternative private security measures had to be arranged for the current trip after government-funded protection was denied, contributing to delays in finalising accommodation plans.
British media reports also suggested that the anticipated court judgment may have influenced Buckingham Palace’s decision-making, with concerns that any direct involvement by the King could affect his constitutional neutrality.
