Prince Harry is not staying in Buckingham Palace after his invitation was rescinded

Prince Harry will not be staying at Buckingham Palace during his visit to London this week after a disagreement emerged between his representatives and the Palace over an accommodation offer.

The development follows conflicting accounts from the Duke of Sussex’s team and King Charles III’s household regarding an invitation extended to Harry ahead of his visit.

According to Buckingham Palace, accommodation at a royal residence was offered to Prince Harry, but his team failed to confirm whether the invitation would be accepted before the deadline. Palace sources said the Sussex team subsequently declined the offer on Saturday before later changing its position and seeking to accept it. The Palace said Harry was informed on Saturday evening that it was no longer possible for him to stay because arrangements and staffing could no longer be made.

A spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex, however, disputed the Palace’s account, saying the offer had been formally accepted before it was withdrawn. “It is therefore unclear why, having formally accepted the accommodation offer, it has now been withdrawn at the last moment,” the spokesperson said. The spokesperson described the decision to withdraw the invitation as “disappointing.”

Palace sources also indicated there were concerns about the timing of Harry’s stay, with the outcome of his legal case against Associated Newspapers due to be delivered during his visit. According to the Palace, there were concerns about the optics of the King appearing to host the Duke while court proceedings involving a high-profile media case were unfolding, given the monarch’s constitutional neutrality.

The Sussex team rejected suggestions that the timing of the court ruling influenced the accommodation dispute, arguing that the schedule for the case had already been known. Despite the disagreement, Prince Harry is expected to proceed with his engagements in the United Kingdom this week, including events promoting the Invictus Games, which will be hosted in Birmingham next year.

His wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and their children, Archie and Lilibet, are not expected to accompany him to London after it was confirmed the family would not receive taxpayer-funded police protection during the visit. However, reports indicate they could join him later in the week in Birmingham.