The Duke of Sussex is still hoping to bring his wife and children on his UK visit next week, despite unresolved security concerns. Harry plans to be joined by Meghan and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, but has concerns about the levels of security that would be provided for his family.
Legal Battle Over Security
Harry faced a protracted legal battle with the Home Office over the security arrangement for him and his family after his level of protection changed when he stepped down as a working royal in 2020. He has argued that he has not been offered a level of security proportionate to the risk, but his team is still planning on the basis that the Duchess and their children will accompany him on the trip to mark the one-year countdown to the Invictus Games in Birmingham.
A spokesman for the family said: "The Duke continues to explore every available option to enable the visit to proceed safely and to give his children the opportunity to enjoy the UK."
Planned Engagements
The children are not expected to attend any public events during the visit, but Meghan is scheduled to appear during visits to the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London and an Invictus event at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham.
After losing a Court of Appeal challenge against the Home Office last year, Harry told the BBC: "I can't see a world in which I would be bringing my wife and children back to the UK at this point." The challenge relates to the rulings of the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec), which decides on the security provision for senior royals and other public figures.
Security Arrangements
It is believed that as things stand, the family will not receive taxpayer-funded protection while in the UK, other than when they are within royal residences. Since Harry’s challenge began, his wife and children have not visited the UK or seen the King, but there are now hopes that Charles will be able to reunite with his youngest grandchildren for the first time in four years. Archie and Lilibet last saw their grandfather in person during Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022, while Harry and Meghan were last together in the UK for her funeral in 2022.
Reconciliation Efforts
Harry met his father on a trip last September, in a meeting that was seen as a step towards a reconciliation. The Duke of Sussex had previously distanced himself from King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William and Princess Kate in comments made during an interview with Oprah Winfrey and on a Netflix documentary, as well as in his autobiography Spare. But now efforts are being made to ensure the forthcoming trip goes ahead smoothly. Harry and his family have been offered accommodation on a royal estate, which would come with security already in place, but it is understood the Royal Household has yet to receive confirmation of acceptance.
Spokesperson's Statement
The Duke’s spokesperson added: "Prince Harry's programme in the United Kingdom includes both public and private engagements across the country. Safe accommodation is only one element of an effective protective security plan because risk follows the person, not the place. The issue has never been accommodation. The issue is whether appropriate and proportionate protective security is being provided throughout the entirety of the visit. The independent Risk Management Board that Ravec itself decided was necessary last November has still not taken place. It is therefore difficult to understand how the proportionality of the current arrangements can credibly be maintained without that independent assessment."
Government Response
A Government spokesperson said: "The UK Government’s protective security system is rigorous and proportionate. 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."
