King Charles is said to be "done" with the theatrics of his youngest son, Prince Harry, as the Duke's latest visit to the UK has sparked a palace row. The head of the Royal household has finally lost patience with Harry and is tired of the constant attention surrounding his trip, according to royal insiders.
Harry, who now lives in the United States, was offered accommodation at Buckingham Palace during his visit but kept changing his mind, infuriating the King. A royal aide told The Sun: "The King was being tested beyond endurance."
Harry's Changing Plans
It is claimed that Harry was offered a bed at the palace, with staff provided, but declined the kind offer. However, hours later, he changed his mind and wanted to stay. By that time, palace staff needed for his stay had been allocated elsewhere, making it impossible to accommodate him.
As a result, Harry is no longer staying with the family and is instead at a private residence. A royal aide 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."
Legal and Charity Visits
Harry is in the UK as part of his lawsuit against Associated Newspapers Limited, with a decision expected imminently. He will also visit London and Birmingham to promote his Invictus Games. It is not known if his wife, Meghan, and their children, Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, will join him or visit the royal family for the first time in four years.
It has been reported that Charles offered an olive branch weeks ago, inviting Harry to use Buckingham Palace after the Sussexes gave 28 days' notice of intent to be in the UK. Harry formally rejected the offer on Saturday morning before changing his mind, saying he would stay for one night only. However, staying at the palace requires a minimum level of notice as a courtesy to staff, and after consulting with the King, Harry was told it was too late.
Sussex Spokesman Responds
Harry disputes this chain of events. A Sussex spokesman said: "I am aware of multiple briefings from Buckingham Palace last week suggesting that the Duke had not accepted the offer of accommodation at a royal residence. Following the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec) decision not to provide security for his family, the Duke spent last week making alternative security arrangements. Once those were in place, he was able to formally accept the offer of accommodation for himself over the weekend. It is therefore disappointing that the offer has now been withdrawn, with Tuesday's judgment in the Associated Newspapers Limited case cited as the reason. Buckingham Palace has, however, been aware of that judgment since last Thursday. It is therefore unclear why, having formally accepted the accommodation offer, it has now been withdrawn at the last moment."
Future Visits
Buckingham Palace declined to comment, but it is understood a royal residence will still be offered for future Sussex trips. Harry has only seen his father twice in the past two years, and Charles has not seen Archie and Lilibet since Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee in June 2022. Meghan has not visited since the Queen's funeral in September 2022.
