The Duke of Sussex's invitation to stay at Buckingham Palace during his UK visit this week was withdrawn shortly after it was accepted, following a series of misunderstandings over accommodation arrangements. Palace officials said the offer was rescinded because Harry's team gave insufficient notice, with the decision made in consultation with the King.
Initially, Harry had turned down a palace offer for him and his family to stay, but later requested to stay alone for one night. By then, palace officials deemed it too late to organise staffing, though they stressed the accommodation would be available in future. Harry's spokesperson expressed disappointment, noting the timing coincided with an impending high court ruling in his case against the Daily Mail's publisher.
The trip has been overshadowed by a security dispute with the government, with Harry's wife Meghan and their children not joining him in London. However, they may visit later when he travels to Birmingham for Invictus Games engagements. No decision has been made on whether they will join for other parts of the visit, including a possible trip to Althorp to see Diana's grave.
The palace and Harry's team had been working together on the complex arrangements, but the withdrawal came as a surprise. Harry's team said they were mystified by the timing, given officials had known about the court case since Thursday. The hearing concerns allegations of unlawful information-gathering against Associated Newspapers Limited, which denies the claims.
It remains unclear whether Harry will see his father during the visit, as the King has a busy schedule. Harry is in England for five days of charity appearances, marking the one-year countdown to the 2027 Invictus Games.
