The Buckingham Palace decision to withdraw its offer of accommodation to Prince Harry has left the Duke of Sussex scrambling to make alternative arrangements for his five-day visit to the U.K. beginning Monday.
The palace reneged on its offer on Saturday, just hours after Harry's team announced that it was a done deal, citing a lack of a timely response from the prince. The decision was reportedly made after King Charles asked for an answer by Friday, but Harry was still unsure, partly due to the denial of taxpayer-funded security for his family by the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (RAVEC).
Harry had initially declined the invitation to stay at Buckingham Palace, but then accepted it later on Saturday. However, after days of trying to figure out ways to make a family visit work, it was eventually decided that Harry would make it a solo trip.
Harry's spokesperson explained in a statement that the decision to revoke the invitation was made in consultation with his father, King Charles, and that the Palace requires a minimum notice period to ensure a guest can be hosted and staff from the Royal Household can be provided.
It is believed that the Palace required a minimum notice period to ensure a guest can be hosted and staff from the Royal Household can be provided, which led to the decision to revoke Harry's invitation.
Harry is scheduled to attend a series of charity engagements centred on the one-year countdown to the 2027 Invictus Games during his visit, but his family may still join him later in the week when the trip moves to Birmingham to promote the Invictus Games.
Prince Harry's visit to the U.K. comes at a time when he and his wife, Meghan, are involved in a lawsuit against the publishers of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers, and the Palace may have wanted to avoid any potential controversy.
It is unclear where the prince will now be staying while in London, but it is likely to be a solo trip. Harry had hoped to bring along Meghan and their children, but the family's security concerns have been an ongoing issue.
Prince Harry has made many trips to the U.K. for charity work and court cases since he and Meghan stepped back from royal duties in 2020. He last met with his father in September 2025, and his family may still join him later in the week when the trip moves to Birmingham to promote the Invictus Games.
