Prince Harry's planned family visit to the UK next month has been thrown into uncertainty after the government declined his request for police protection, according to sources close to the Duke of Sussex. The trip, which would have included his wife Meghan and their children Archie and Lilibet, was intended to mark the Invictus Games in Birmingham and reunite the young royals with King Charles.
A source told the Guardian that the plans were "pulled out from under their feet at the 11th hour," leaving Harry "distraught." The prince is said to fear his children will not be able to meet their grandfather due to security concerns, as he refuses to subject them to being "chased by paparazzi wherever they go."
The visit would have been the first time King Charles saw Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, in person since the Platinum Jubilee in 2022. Harry lost a legal battle last year against the Home Office over automatic police protection, and a final decision from the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec) was pending. The Home Office declined to comment on specific security arrangements, stating its system is "rigorous and proportionate."
Harry is reportedly exploring alternative options to make the trip happen but acknowledges it may not be possible without proper security. The development comes as relations between Harry and his father had shown signs of improvement, with a meeting in September 2024 described as a "warming of the frost" by a business associate.
