Prince Harry’s U.K. Trip Already Stirring Drama as Rumors Swirl About Revoked Invitation To Stay at Buckingham Palace

Prince Harry's trip to the U.K. has already been met with a frenzy of speculation and rumor over whether he will be joined on the visit by his wife, Meghan Markle, and their children—but now new questions are being raised about where he will stay while he's in his home country.

The Duke of Sussex, 41, who arrives in the U.K. today, was said to have planned for Meghan, 44, and their two kids, son Archie, 7, and daughter Lilibet, 5, to accompany him on the trip, during which he will mark the one-year countdown to his next Invictus Games.

However, reports emerged over the weekend that Harry would travel to London alone—with sources claiming that the royal did not feel comfortable bringing his family with him after he was denied taxpayer-funded security for the trip. It's unclear whether Meghan, Archie, and Lilibet will join him at another location in the U.K. during his five-day stay.

Harry has been locked in an ongoing legal battle over the removal of his taxpayer-funded security by the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (RAVEC)—the government body tasked with deciding who does and doesn't meet the requirements for publicly funded security in the U.K.

But further controversy emerged on the morning of Harry's arrival, when a spokesperson for the father of two confirmed that Buckingham Palace had "withdrawn" an offer for him to stay at the historic property during his time in London.

It's understood that King Charles had extended an invitation to his son to stay at the palace—which is located in London—during his time in the country's capital, but that the offer had been accepted too late.

The BBC reports that the Sussexes' team had initially declined the invitation, only to then U-turn on that decision late in the day on Saturday, July 4. However, by that point, Buckingham Palace had determined that it was too late to arrange staffing—a decision that Harry's spokesperson described as "disappointing."

The spokesperson stated that Harry had spent much of the previous week trying to secure privately funded security—and had only been able to accept the invitation when those arrangements had been confirmed.

"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," they said.

"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 also understood that Harry's ongoing lawsuit against Associated Newspapers, the parent company of the Daily Mail, played a role in King Charles' decision to revoke the invitation. A decision in the case is due to be delivered by the court on Tuesday, July 7, and there were concerns that the monarch would be seen to be picking sides if his son addressed the decision publicly while staying at Buckingham Palace.

However, Harry's spokesperson suggested that Buckingham Palace was aware that this decision would be released several days before they withdrew the offer.

"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," the continued.

"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."

Sources also say that this to-ing and fro-ing about Harry's potential stay at Buckingham Palace could put additional strain on any potential meeting between the Duke and his father, who have not seen one another in person since September 2025.

It was previously reported that Harry was excited for the opportunity to spend time with the king during his visit—and that he had been eager for Charles to spend time with Meghan and the children, who have not traveled to the U.K. since 2022, when they attended Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

Harry is expected to touch down in London on Monday, July 6, with his first scheduled event due to be held July 7—although it is unclear where he will now stay during his time in the city.

Harry and Meghan have not had access to their own personal U.K. base since early 2023, when they were "asked to vacate" Frogmore Cottage, a property on the grounds of Windsor Castle, where they had been living before relocating to the U.S.

The couple continued to use the property, which was leased to them by the Queen shortly after their wedding in 2018, even after moving to California, but had officially vacated the home by June 2023, according to reports.

For nearly six years, the couple's primary residence has been their sprawling nine-bedroom, 16-bathroom Montecito estate, which they bought in June 2020, several months after stepping down from their roles as senior working royals.