On Monday, Prince Harry’s plans to stay in London faced uncertainty. Buckingham Palace denied his spokesperson’s claim that he would be staying there, affecting his upcoming visit to the U.K. Initially, sources indicated Harry would embark on a five-day visit alone, following an issue with his police protection.
The situation intensified when the Duke of Sussex’s spokesperson confirmed he accepted an invitation to stay at Buckingham Palace. However, Buckingham Palace stated Harry missed the necessary deadline to secure his stay. A minimum notice period is required for hosting guests such as the prince, which had not been met according to sources.
Sources reported that Buckingham Palace sought clarification about the accommodation offer multiple times without receiving a formal response. The offer was declined initially on Saturday but accepted later, after the deadline elapsed.
In contrast, Harry’s spokesperson argued that Buckingham Palace withdrew their offer after it had been formally accepted. They expressed confusion over why the offer was retracted at the last moment. CBS News reached out to Harry’s representatives for comments but did not receive an immediate response.
This situation adds to Prince Harry’s challenges during his visit, which is intended to mark the countdown to the Invictus Games, slated to be held in Birmingham. Harry started the games in 2014 for wounded veterans.
The trip also aimed to be the family’s first visit to Britain in four years, including his wife Meghan and their children, Archie and Lilibet. Nevertheless, the family won’t join Harry after he was reportedly denied royal protection.
Harry’s visit coincides with an expected judgement on Tuesday related to a lawsuit he and other celebrities filed against Associated Newspapers, alleging unlawful information gathering by the Daily Mail.
Since leaving the royal family in 2020 and relocating to North America, Harry has returned to the U.K. infrequently, mainly for charity work and legal matters.