Prince Harry accepts Buckingham Palace stay as UK visit takes another dramatic turn
Prince Harryâs return to Britain has taken another striking twist, with the Duke of Sussex reportedly accepting King Charlesâs offer to stay at Buckingham Palace during his visit to the UK this week.
The move is significant because Harry is expected to arrive in London without Meghan Markle, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, following days of uncertainty over whether the Sussex family would travel together amid the continuing row over security arrangements.
Prince Harry claimed he accepted an offer from King Charles (pictured together in 2019) to stay at Buckingham Palace – only for it to emerge that this had been too late for the Palace to prepare
Meghan could make her first return to the UK since 2022, accompanied by her children Prince Archie, 7, and five-year-old Lilibet
According to the report, Harry has now accepted a room at the Palace after liaising directly with his father. A private meeting between the King and his younger son is expected, although any details are likely to remain behind closed doors rather than being formally announced by the Palace.
The biggest question now is whether Meghan and the children will still come to Britain later in the week. Archie and Lilibet have not seen King Charles since 2022, and the monarch is said to be keen for a reunion with his grandchildren after years of distance between the Sussexes and the wider Royal Family.
The Duchess of Sussex, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet will not travel to London on Monday after a request for police protection was denied, however they may still visit the UK for a quick visit and perhaps see the King
Harryâs decision to stay inside a royal palace is especially eye-catching given his past criticism of the institution and the courtiers he has previously described as working behind palace walls. For supporters, the move could suggest a practical step towards easing tensions. For critics, it is another dramatic U-turn in a visit that has already been dominated by confusion and competing briefings.
The Dukeâs trip has been overshadowed by a long-running dispute over police protection in the UK. Harry has argued that his family cannot safely return without appropriate security. His team has reportedly claimed there are serious and credible threats against him and his family, particularly in London.
The Duchess of Sussex and the coupleâs two children are not expected to travel to London with Harry on Monday after a request for additional protection was turned down. However, sources close to the Sussexes have not ruled out the possibility of Meghan, Archie and Lilibet joining him later during another part of the visit.
One possible destination is Althorp, the Spencer family estate where Princess Diana is buried. Harry is understood to want his children to understand their British heritage and to connect with the places that shaped his own life, including his late motherâs family home.
Meghan is also expected to join Harry in Birmingham later in the week for an event connected to the Invictus Games, the competition for wounded service personnel that Harry founded in 2014. The Duke is also due to attend events connected to WellChild and Scottyâs Little Soldiers during his stay.
The reported Palace stay comes after a turbulent period of back-and-forth over the Sussexesâ plans. At one point, Harryâs team was said to have indicated that Meghan and the children would travel with him, only for concerns over security to change the picture less than a day later.
There are also legal clouds over the trip. Harry is due to receive a ruling in his case against Associated Newspapers, publisher of the Daily Mail and MailOnline. The duke and other claimants have accused the group of using unlawful information-gathering methods, allegations the publisher denies.
For now, the image is a dramatic one: Prince Harry returning to Britain alone, staying inside Buckingham Palace, and potentially preparing for another private meeting with the father from whom he has been publicly estranged. Whether that becomes a step towards reconciliation, or simply another chapter in the Sussex saga, remains to be seen.
