Prince Harry won't stay at Buckingham Palace after row over accommodation offer

Prince Harry's Britain visit has been hit by a public row with Buckingham Palace over accommodation plans. The conflicting accounts have deepened tensions and clouded a possible meeting with King Charles.

In Short

• Both sides blame missed deadlines and shifting responses for the booking breakdown
• The dispute has cast doubt over Harry meeting King Charles
• Questions also remain over whether Archie and Lilibet will travel later

Prince Harry's visit to Britain has been overshadowed by a fresh public dispute with Buckingham Palace after the royal residence said he would no longer be staying there during his trip, with both sides offering conflicting accounts over how the accommodation arrangement fell apart, reported BBC.

The disagreement has fuelled fresh tensions between the Sussex camp and the Royal Household ahead of Harry's visit to London to promote next year's Invictus Games in Birmingham and attend charity engagements. It also raises fresh uncertainty over whether he will meet King Charles during the trip.

The row began after Prince Harry's team announced on Monday that he had accepted an invitation to stay at Buckingham Palace during part of his visit.

However, Buckingham Palace later said the Duke of Sussex would not be staying there after failing to respond to the accommodation offer before the deadline at the end of last week.

According to royal sources, Harry had been offered accommodation at a royal residence but did not formally confirm whether he would accept before the required deadline. Palace officials said he was informed over the weekend that arrangements could no longer be made because the Royal Household requires sufficient notice to prepare for guests.

The Palace's version is that Harry's team initially failed to confirm the booking, later declined the offer and then changed its position, deciding to accept only after it was too late to make the necessary arrangements.

Buckingham Palace said that decision had been communicated to the Duke.

HARRY'S TEAM SAYS OFFER WAS WITHDRAWN

Prince Harry's representatives rejected the Palace's account, saying they understood the accommodation offer had been withdrawn despite having accepted it.

A spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex described the decision as "disappointing".

"It is therefore unclear why, having formally accepted the accommodation offer, it has now been withdrawn at the last moment," the spokesperson said.

The Sussex team also rejected suggestions that the timing of a court ruling involving Harry's legal action against Associated Newspapers had influenced the decision. They said the timing of the judgment had already been known last week.

Royal sources, meanwhile, said there had been concerns about the Duke staying at Buckingham Palace while the court result was due to be published on Tuesday.

The contradictory accounts have once again exposed the strained relationship and lack of trust between Buckingham Palace and Prince Harry's team, with neither side accepting the other's version of events.

QUESTIONS OVER KING CHARLES MEETING

The disagreement could further complicate plans for a meeting between Prince Harry and King Charles, which had been expected during the visit.

It also remains unclear whether the King will meet his grandchildren, Archie and Lilibet, whom he has not seen in person for four years.

Harry is travelling to Britain without his wife Meghan and their children after it was confirmed that the family would not receive taxpayer-funded police protection during the visit.

However, they could still join him later in Birmingham for engagements linked to the Invictus Games.

BIRMINGHAM VISIT AND FAMILY PLANS

During his stay in Birmingham, Prince Harry is expected to visit the city's children's hospital and the National Exhibition Centre, which will host the Invictus Games for injured and sick military personnel next year.

Reports have also suggested the later part of his trip could include a visit to Althorp in Northamptonshire, the family estate of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. It is understood there were plans for Harry to take Meghan, Archie and Lilibet to Diana's private grave if they joined him.

SECURITY DISPUTE CONTINUES

Harry's long-running dispute over security arrangements in Britain dates back to 2020, when he stepped back from royal duties and moved to the US with his family.

He has challenged the decision by the Royal and VIP Executive Committee's Risk Management Board to assess his security requirements on a case-by-case basis because he is now an infrequent visitor to Britain.

Speaking to the BBC in 2025, Harry said he could not "see a world in which I would be bringing my wife and children back to the UK at this point" without improved security arrangements.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex last visited Britain together in 2022 for Queen Elizabeth II's funeral. Since then, Prince Harry has travelled to the country alone, including a visit last September when he met King Charles.

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