The Duke of Sussex fears his children will not meet King Charles during a planned UK visit next month after the government declined his request for police protection. The trip, intended for events related to the Invictus Games in Birmingham, would have been the first time Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, saw their grandfather in person since 2022.
A source close to Harry described him as "distraught" and said the visit was "pulled out from under their feet at the 11th hour". The source added that Harry would not subject his children to being "chased by paparazzi wherever they go from the moment they step off the plane".
Harry lost a legal battle last year against the Home Office over automatic police protection while in the UK. He had since been awaiting a final decision from the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec), which authorises such protection. The Home Office declined to comment on specific security arrangements.
The duke met his father last September in London, their first face-to-face meeting since February 2024, which was seen as a step towards improving relations. An LA-based business associate of Harry and Meghan noted a "warming of the frost" between the king and his youngest son after Harry's public attacks in his memoir and interviews.
