Prince Harry’s spokesperson said the duke had accepted an invitation to stay at Buckingham Palace during his upcoming visit to the UK, but the palace contradicted this within minutes, stating the offer was no longer available.
Row erupts over accommodation
The Duke of Sussex is set to visit London and Birmingham for charity engagements, including promoting the Invictus Games. The trip has been overshadowed by a security dispute with the government. On Sunday, a spokesperson said Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and their children would not join him in London but might later in Birmingham.
On Monday, the BBC reported that Harry’s spokesperson said he had accepted an invitation to stay at Buckingham Palace. However, within 15 minutes, the palace contradicted this. Harry’s spokesperson said the offer from King Charles III had been “withdrawn at the last moment,” with Tuesday’s judgment in the duke’s case against Associated Newspapers cited as the reason.
Conflicting accounts
PA Media reported that Harry initially turned down the offer for himself, his wife, and children on Saturday, then made a U-turn later that day, asking to stay alone. The palace said appropriate hospitality and staffing were no longer available, and the legal case could compromise the king’s constitutional position. The palace stated it needed a minimum level of notice to host the prince appropriately.
Harry’s spokesperson said: “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.” After a decision not to provide security for his family, Harry “spent last week making alternative security arrangements.” Once those were in place, he formally accepted the accommodation offer over the weekend. “It is, therefore, disappointing that the offer has now been withdrawn, with Tuesday’s judgment in the Associated Newspapers Ltd case cited as the reason. Buckingham Palace has, however, been aware of that judgment since last Thursday.”
Legal case pending
Harry and other claimants will learn on Tuesday whether they have won their high court cases against the Daily Mail’s publisher, in a written ruling by Mr Justice Nicklin.
