Buckingham Palace has rescinded an offer for Prince Harry to stay at a royal residence during his UK visit this week. A spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex labeled the withdrawal “disappointing.” The logistical clash occurs amid the ongoing Royal and VIP Executive Committee (RAVEC) policy dispute regarding his taxpayer-funded police protection.
The reversal centers on conflicting timelines and legal considerations. Harry’s representatives stated he accepted the offer over the weekend after finalizing private security arrangements, only to have the invitation revoked “at the last moment.” Palace sources counter that the Duke missed the initial deadline, making it too late to arrange necessary hospitality and household staff by Saturday.
A secondary factor driving the withdrawal is the impending Tuesday judgment in Harry’s lawsuit against Associated Newspapers Limited. A spokesperson noted this legal ruling influenced the revocation, as Palace insiders expressed concerns that hosting him during the decision could compromise King Charles’s constitutional neutrality, according to the Independent.
The delay in Harry’s response was directly tied to his efforts to secure private protection after the RAVEC decision denied automatic taxpayer-funded security. The Duke is traveling to London alone to attend charity engagements and promote the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham. Meghan Markle and their children, Archie and Lilibet, are not accompanying him to the capital.