At around 9 am, news broke of a significant reconciliation: Prince Harry, previously labeled the royal family’s “wayward son,” accepted an invitation to stay with his relatives at Buckingham Palace during his UK visit this week.
After years of strained relations, including allegations of rivalry between him and his brother, this was seen as a potential start to a new era of peace among the royals.
However, this feeling was short-lived. Just 15 minutes later, it was announced that, contrary to what the Duke of Sussex’s spokesperson claimed, he would no longer be welcome.
The decision to rescind the invitation was reportedly made in consultation with the king, who had spoken to his son privately before the palace communicated the outcome through proper channels.
Arriving in the UK on Monday, the duke had hoped to spend one night at his father’s official residence while attending various charity events in London, including promoting the Invictus Games. His trip has been clouded by a security dispute with the government, and his spokesperson announced on Sunday that the Duchess of Sussex and their children would not accompany him to London but might join him later in the West Midlands.
According to PA Media, the duke and his family had originally been offered accommodation at the palace, which he declined on Saturday. It’s reported that he later changed his mind and requested to stay alone for one night. His team mentioned that the delay was due to the complexity of security arrangements.
However, palace officials felt it was too late to organize staff. While the palace claimed to have made every effort to accommodate the duke’s stay, they emphasized that proper notice is necessary for staff at royal residences to prepare. They indicated that future stays would still be possible for him and his family.
What truly frustrated Harry’s team was the implication that the invitation was withdrawn out of concern that the king might be put in an awkward position due to a high court ruling related to his youngest son scheduled for the following Tuesday.
The palace and Harry had reportedly collaborated to finalize complex arrangements, leading to expectations of an agreement. Thus, Harry’s spokesperson expressed disappointment over the withdrawal of the offer, especially since officials had been aware of the impending judgment since last Thursday. They were left puzzled by the timing of the decision.
The court case initiated by Harry and others against the publisher of the Daily Mail, Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), revolves around accusations of unlawful information-gathering, including voicemail interception, landline tapping, and acquiring information through deception by private investigators and journalists.
The firm has denied these allegations, stating they have a “complete defense” and that the claims were filed too late.
It remains unclear if or when Harry will meet with his father during this visit, as the king has a packed schedule this week while his son is engaged in five days of events in England, including the one-year countdown to the Invictus Games in 2027.
No decisions have been made regarding whether Harry’s family will join him for the remainder of the UK visit outside the capital. Reports suggest he wishes to take them to see the resting place of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, in Althorp, Northamptonshire, and reunite his children with their grandfather, the king, who is currently undergoing cancer treatment, for the first time in four years.
