Prince Harry is set to arrive in the UK today for the one-year countdown event for the 2027 Invictus Games. The 41-year-old will travel alone after deciding it was unsafe for Meghan Markle and their two children to fly. King Charles had offered the family a royal residence, an offer Harry recently accepted, but it has since been withdrawn.
Accommodation Offer Withdrawn
Harry reportedly accepted a stay at Buckingham Palace, but the offer was withdrawn after the Sussexes responded too late. A spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess 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 RAVEC’s decision not to provide security for his family, the Duke spent last week making alternative security arrangements. Once those arrangements 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 It is therefore disappointing that the offer has now been withdrawn, with Tuesday’s judgment in the Associated Newspapers Limited case cited as the reason.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 It is therefore unclear why, having formally accepted the accommodation offer, it has now been withdrawn at the last moment.'
Security Concerns
This follows reports that the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (RAVEC) rejected an application for taxpayer-funded, armed police protection during the London leg of the Sussexes' stay. Meghan has not travelled to the UK since September 2022, while Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, now aged seven and five, have not visited since June 2022. Harry has previously stated that due to safety fears, he 'couldn't see a world' where he could bring his family to the UK.
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