King Charles was reportedly “tested beyond endurance” by the latest drama surrounding Prince Harry, according to a royal source cited by the Mirror. The Duke of Sussex is in the UK to promote his Invictus Games after Buckingham Palace withdrew its offer for him to stay at the royal residence.
Accommodation offer withdrawn amid conflicting narratives
The prince has been embroiled in back-and-forth bickering with Buckingham Palace over the accommodation offer. Harry claimed he had accepted the King’s offer to stay at the palace, but the offer was withdrawn shortly after as it was no longer deemed feasible for him to stay. The palace said there was not enough time to organise the necessary staffing and security provisions to host him, while a spokesperson for Harry maintains they accepted the stay after independent security protocols were confirmed.
Following more arguments, a royal aide said the King lost his patience over the issue. It has since been revealed that Harry would be staying in an undisclosed private location instead.
Royal source: ‘The King’s patience snapped’
As reported by the Mirror, a royal source said: “The King’s patience snapped. He wants to be a loving father and grandfather but that was being tested beyond endurance. He is not willing to be pushed around, nor to indulge a constant state of chaos.”
Harry is currently in the UK for a five-day solo visit. In addition to promoting next year’s Invictus Games, which will take place in Birmingham, the prince will focus on charity engagements. The visit also coincided with the High Court’s final judgement regarding his case against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL). The Prince has travelled without his wife, Meghan Markle, and their children, Archie and Lilibet, after their request for taxpayer-funded security was denied.
Missed deadlines and security concerns
After plans of his trip were confirmed, Harry was invited to stay at Buckingham Palace by the King. However, it was withdrawn following missed deadlines and a breakdown in communication. Both sides have since released conflicting narratives, with palace sources claiming Harry missed the deadline to accept the invitation and the Duke’s spokesperson stating the delay was down to his need to secure alternative security arrangements.
According to the palace, the last-minute turnaround meant the royal household could not arrange necessary staffing and security. Meanwhile, Harry’s team described the rejection as “disappointing” and alleged the ongoing legal battle was one of the main reasons behind the U-turn.
The Duke of Sussex arrived in the UK on Monday evening before being spotted at a film premiere in London. He then headed out for his first engagement, an Invictus Games event at Chatham House in London, on Tuesday.
