Prince Harry Faces Accommodation Confusion in London Visit

On Monday, Prince Harry’s accommodation plans for his London visit faced uncertainty. Buckingham Palace contradicted his spokesperson’s statement, denying that he would stay at the palace. This added to the complications around his U.K. visit.

A source close to Harry informed AFP that the prince planned to visit the U.K. for five days without his family. The reason cited was the reported lapse in their police protection.

The drama unfolded as a spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex claimed he had accepted an invitation to stay at Buckingham Palace. However, shortly after, the palace announced that Harry would not stay there. He missed a deadline to accept the offer by the end of last week.

Sources informed CBS News that Buckingham Palace requires a minimum notice period to host guests like Prince Harry, which was not observed. The palace made several requests for clarity on the accommodation offer but did not receive a formal response. The offer was officially declined on Saturday, then belatedly accepted, but the deadline had already passed.

“It is unclear why, having formally accepted the accommodation offer, it has now been withdrawn at the last moment,” a spokesperson for the Duke stated.

CBS News reached out to Harry’s representatives for comments but received no immediate response.

This situation adds to the prince’s challenges, as his visit marks the one-year countdown to the Invictus Games in Birmingham. The games, launched by Harry in 2014, aid wounded veterans.

This visit was to be Harry’s first family trip back to Britain in four years with his wife Meghan, and children Archie and Lilibet. However, due to the lack of royal protection, the family will not join him in London, according to a source close to Harry.

Harry’s trip coincides with a judgment expected on Tuesday. This pertains to a lawsuit he and other celebrities filed against Associated Newspapers, alleging unlawful information gathering.

Since separating from the royal family in 2020 and relocating to North America, Harry has made only brief visits to the U.K. for charity events and legal proceedings.