Prince Harry has reportedly reconsidered his decision to bring Meghan Markle and their two young children to the United Kingdom next month, after a formal request for taxpayer-funded police protection was denied just days before the family was scheduled to depart. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex had planned to travel to the UK in early July for events marking the one-year countdown to Harry's 2027 Invictus Games, to be held in Birmingham. The trip was intended to be the couple's first joint visit to the UK in four years and would have included their children, Prince Archie, aged seven, and Princess Lilibet, aged five, making it Lilibet's first ever visit to the country.
Security Request Rejected
Harry's team submitted a formal request to the police for publicly funded security protection, but were reportedly informed on Friday that the request had been rejected. According to sources, the prince has been left distraught by the decision, which came just days before the family was due to travel. The Duke had previously stated that the UK was "not safe" for his wife and children, but had changed his mind for this visit, accepting an offer to stay at a royal residence, believed to be Buckingham Palace. In the past, Harry had refused similar offers during other trips to the UK.
The rejection of the security request has thrown the visit into uncertainty, with the prince now rethinking whether to bring Meghan and the children. A source close to the Duke told The Times: "He just wants his kids to see their grandfather," but is reconsidering whether it is safe to bring the five- and seven-year-old without adequate protection.
Ongoing Security Dispute
Harry's access to police protection was removed in 2022 after the couple stepped back from royal duties and moved to the United States. He was told that he would need to give the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec) 30 days' notice of any planned visit to the UK, along with his schedule. The Mirror reported earlier this week that Harry had become "increasingly frustrated" that a review into his request for taxpayer-funded security had taken more than six months. A source said: "He 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."
The source added: "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."
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." It is understood that Ravec carries out security decisions on behalf of the government and that the Home Secretary is not involved in individual decisions.
The couple had planned several family outings during the visit, including reportedly taking Archie and Lilibet to visit the grave of Harry's mother, Princess Diana, at Althorp House. The trip would have been the first time the children met their grandfather, King Charles, in person since the couple moved to the US. However, with the security rejection, those plans are now in doubt.
