Prince Harry’s Buckingham Palace invite ‘withdrawn at the last moment’ before UK visit — despite ‘formal’ acceptance
Prince Harry’s invitation to stay at Buckingham Palace during his upcoming visit to the United Kingdom was “withdrawn at the last moment” after he “formally” accepted it.
“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,” a rep for the Duke of Sussex told Page Six in a statement.
“Following RAVEC’s decision not to provide security for his family, the Duke spent last week making alternative security arrangements,” the spokesperson added.
“Once those arrangements were in place, [Harry] was able to formally accept the offer of accommodation for himself over the weekend.”
Harry’s rep said it is “disappointing” that the offer “has now been withdrawn,” citing Tuesday’s forthcoming judgment in the Associated Newspapers Limited case as the reason.
“Buckingham Palace has, however, been aware of that judgment since last Thursday,” the “Spare” author’s spokesperson added.
“It is therefore unclear why, having formally accepted the accommodation offer, it has now been withdrawn at the last moment.”
However, the BBC reported that the Sussex team failed to confirm whether they would accept to stay at Buckingham Palace and formally declined the invitation on Saturday.
Buckingham Palace claimed that later that day Harry’s team changed their minds and accepted the offer to stay — but it was too late to make arrangements.
On Saturday evening, the palace notified the Invictus Games founder, 41, that he couldn’t stay there.
BBC reported that the palace was concerned about the outcome of Harry’s case against the publishers of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers and believed the result could compromise King Charles III’s constitutional position.
The Sussex team said, however, that the palace knew that the timing of the court judgment was already known last week.
Harry’s visit to London was slated to begin Tuesday. The dad of two is traveling to the UK to promote his Invictus Games, which will be held in Birmingham next year, and other charity events.
Harry was originally planning to bring his wife, Meghan Markle, 44, and their two children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, with him across the pond. However, they were denied taxpayer-funded security.
Despite the security concerns, Harry was exploring “every available option” to bring his children and wife with him.
Harry and the “Suits” actress — who quit the royal family in 2020 — have not brought their children to England since 2022.