Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's planned visit to the UK next week for the Invictus Games 2027 countdown is now uncertain after their request for police protection was rejected. The Duke of Sussex has been left 'devastated' by the decision, which has thrown the family's travel arrangements into question.
Security Rejection Sparks Turmoil
Harry has consistently stated his desire to bring his children, Archie and Lilibet, to Britain so they can discover their heritage. However, since his police protection was withdrawn in 2020 when he stepped back as a working royal, he has declined to do so citing safety concerns. The Duke's demands for police protection led to a protracted court battle, which he ultimately lost, and became a source of tension between him and his father, King Charles.
Harry revealed to the BBC last year that his father had ceased speaking to him over the matter, with the King making it clear that while he wishes to see his estranged son and grandchildren, he cannot interfere in security issues. Charles has extended an offer of accommodation at a royal residence, believed to be Buckingham Palace, which would ensure a substantial level of security. However, the Sussexes have since been informed they will not receive full police protection funded by the taxpayer, which might have included a police escort when travelling across the country.
Harry's Disappointment and Government Stance
Harry had reportedly anticipated that his security arrangements would be altered for this visit. When RAVEC—the Royal and VIP Executive Committee, which determines security provision for senior royals on behalf of the Home Office—informed the couple that this would not happen, Harry was said to have been 'devastated'. A Government spokesman stated that its protective security system was 'rigorous and proportionate', adding: 'It is our long-standing policy not to provide detailed information on those arrangements, as doing so could compromise their integrity and affect individuals' security.'
A source said Harry 'has grown increasingly frustrated with the whole process and has had to alter his standpoint. From initially being told a decision would be made within a matter of weeks, it is now more than six months on. He (Harry) was determined to travel back to the UK with his family around the Invictus event, so he has finally made the decision to accept the offer of staying at a royal residence which he believes will be sufficient for this trip.'
Will Harry and William Meet?
The prospects of a brotherly reunion appear slim. Royal expert Jennie Bond said: 'It is going to be a delicate balancing act for the King. If he makes peace with his youngest son, his loyal and steadfast older son will have his nose royally put out of joint. There is absolutely no sign of any thaw in the brotherly feud. But we should never say never. Things can change—and perhaps William might one day come round to his brother's view that there's no point in continuing to fight any more.'
Bond added: 'A massive issue is trust. Both Harry and Meghan have squandered the trust of senior members of the Royal Family. His book and their Netflix documentary series invaded the privacy of the King, the Queen and William and Catherine. And I think the Sussexes are still on very shaky ground when it comes to trust.' Royal editor Russell Myers described the rift between the two brothers as 'the worst it's ever been', adding, 'I see no chance of a reconciliation'.
Will Archie and Lilibet Appear in Public?
Even should they visit the UK, it remains improbable that Archie and Lilibet will participate in public Invictus events alongside Harry and Meghan. The couple have made their intentions clear regarding shielding the youngsters from public exposure—when they feature on Meghan's social media, their faces are concealed. When the family returned to the UK in 2022 for the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee, the children were shielded from view. Considering their ongoing security concerns, it seems highly probable the Duke and Duchess will maintain this approach.
Reports suggest Harry wishes to take his children to visit Princess Diana's grave during next week's UK visit. Diana was laid to rest on an island at her ancestral home of Althorp House, in West Northamptonshire, which remains closed to the public.
Public Events Planned
Should the trip proceed, the couple will spend five days in the UK, from July 7 to 11, to mark the one-year countdown to the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham. The London and Birmingham visit will feature a stop at the Invictus Games Foundation at Chatham House in London alongside a visit to the Royal Hospital in Chelsea. The couple are due to visit Birmingham Children's Hospital to mark the 20th anniversary of the WellChild Nurse programme—their first joint official engagement on British soil since March 2020.
On July 10, they will head to Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre (NEC)—the principal venue for the Games—for a one-year celebration, during which the Duke is expected to take part in exhibition events alongside veterans. He will also undertake solo engagements, including attending a conference on wounded military personnel and Scotty's Summer Festival at Maxstoke Castle, which provides support for grieving youngsters from armed forces families.
The working royals will carry out their own engagements while the Sussexes are on UK soil. Prince William's annual polo match is scheduled for July 10, while the Princess of Wales is reported to be attending Wimbledon on July 11 and 12.
Security Details and Legal Battle
The family were due to stay on a royal estate as guests of King Charles. Harry has previously declined the offer to stay at Buckingham Palace owing to its prominent location. Last year, he lost a legal battle to secure regular police protection during visits to the UK. 'I can't see a world in which I would be bringing my wife and children back to the UK at this point and the things they're going to miss is, well, everything,' he said following the ruling. 'You know I love my country, I always have done, despite what some people in the country have done.'
Following the rejection of his latest appeal, a final ruling is expected within the coming days. Harry and Meghan do not receive taxpayer-funded protection while in the UK, except when staying within royal residences. Harry's security firm does provide personnel to accompany him during overseas travel, however a recent report acknowledges that the protection team cannot carry firearms on UK soil, concluding that 'UK authorities are much better positioned to provide him with more comprehensive protection'.
The 40-page risk assessment, commissioned by Harry's private security firm and funded by the Duke himself, was submitted to the UK security committee responsible for determining whether Harry should receive state-funded protection. The document states that Harry's private protection officers are prevented from 'adequately responding to an armed attack from a terrorist, criminal, or mentally unstable actor. Only UK police, with authorisation from RAVEC, can carry lethal weapons while protecting The Duke'. It further notes that, despite stepping down from his role as a working member of the Royal Family, Harry 'is still The King's son and remains a symbol of the crown'. It states: 'Extremists with grievances against Great Britain—including jihadists or others that oppose the Commonwealth—pose a considerable threat and do not take his specific role into account. The Duke has been the target of specific jihadist threats ever since serving in Afghanistan in 2007/2008.'
Royal editor Russell Myers said Harry 'jumped the gun' when he revealed the family visit before security arrangements were confirmed. 'He thought he was going to be afforded this protection which he so craves, and yet what has happened is he put out a statement saying the whole family was coming to the UK, and then had to row back on it.' However, Tom Sykes from the Daily Beast suggested a more sinister motive: 'The tour, the announcement that Meghan and the kids were coming, the whole carefully choreographed media rollout, the months of assurances to the Royal Household that this was happening, the accommodation requests, the detailed planning: it was all just to bounce his poor, weak, loving father into intervening in the Government's security decision-making, something Charles, to his eternal credit, has refused to do. This is the high-water mark of Harry's emotional blackmail.'
A source close to the Sussexes said: 'Harry is devastated and in absolute turmoil over this decision. He is incredibly frustrated at the lack of action from the Home Office and its delay in making a decision. He has blamed dark forces for stopping his family coming to the UK and arranging to see the King. Everything is very much up in the air.'
