Prince Harry won't stay at Buckingham Palace during UK visit after missing deadline

Prince Harry will not be staying at Buckingham Palace during his upcoming visit to the United Kingdom this week, reportedly because he missed the deadline to accept an invitation. This marks a notable absence from royal accommodations during his trip.

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Harry was supposed to bring his two children, Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5, to England for the first time in four years later this week, but his spokesperson said Sunday that they would no longer join their father in Britain after the family was unable to agree on a security deal with the British government.

Harry's children, Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5, were also expected to join him in Britain for the first time in four years. However, their attendance was canceled due to an inability to finalize a security arrangement with the British government. Harry and his wife, Meghan, have resided in California since 2020.

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According to Reuters, a royal source said that Buckingham Palace sent Harry several requests for clarification regarding an invitation to stay, but he failed to respond before the deadline, leaving staff without enough time to prepare for his arrival.

A royal source indicated that Buckingham Palace sent multiple requests for clarification regarding the invitation, but Harry failed to respond before the deadline. He formally declined the invitation, then reportedly changed his mind. Harry's spokesperson cited the need to make alternative security arrangements following the government's decision not to provide protection as the reason for the delay, stating the offer was later withdrawn.

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The source told Reuters that Harry then formally declined the invite but later changed his mind.

The indecision over accommodation comes amid years of strained relations between Prince Harry and his royal family since his move to the U.S. in 2020. Tensions escalated following the release of his memoir, "Spare," in 2023. Harry is scheduled for several charity engagements in London and Birmingham, and will also attend a UK court case verdict against MGN, the publisher of the Daily Mail, concerning allegations of unlawful behavior. The palace reportedly withdrew the offer due to the King's constitutional obligation to remain distant from individual legal proceedings.

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Harry’s spokesperson said the prince had been unable to accept the accommodation offer immediately because he was making alternative security arrangements following the government’s decision not to provide protection, and that it was later withdrawn.