Prince Harry's UK visit has been thrown into disarray after Buckingham Palace withdrew its offer for the Duke of Sussex to stay there. His spokesman said the accommodation offer was "withdrawn at the last moment", with the imminent judgment in the duke's High Court case against Associated Newspapers on Tuesday cited as the explanation.
Background of the Dispute
The Duke of Sussex will not be accommodated at Buckingham Palace during his UK visit, as arrangements for his stay collapsed. A spokesman for Harry described it as "disappointing" that the King's offer had been withdrawn at the last moment. It is understood the duke initially turned down the offer for himself and his family, who are no longer joining him in London, on Saturday, before making a U-turn later that day and requesting to stay himself.
The appropriate hospitality and staffing provision was said to be no longer available, with Buckingham Palace also believing the longstanding legal case had complicated the matter and could compromise the King's constitutional position. The Royal Household requires a minimum level of notice to ensure he could be hosted appropriately at a royal residence.
Legal Case and Security Concerns
Harry and a group of other household names are set to find out on Tuesday whether they have won their High Court cases against the Daily Mail's publisher, in an expected written ruling by Mr Justice Nicklin. The duke wanted to stay at the Palace for just one night, the Press Association understands. Questions have been raised on the Sussex side as to whether the offer of a bed at a royal residence was ever intended to be available once Harry had accepted it.
Private conversations are said to have taken place between the duke and his father. Harry and his team are understood to be frustrated that the reasons given for the withdrawal of the offer shifted from not accepting the accommodation to the forthcoming Associated Newspapers legal judgment.
Official Statements
A spokesman for the duke 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. Following RAVEC's decision not to provide security for his family, the duke spent last week making alternative security arrangements. Once those arrangements were in place, he was able to formally accept the offer of accommodation for himself over the weekend."
The spokesman added: "It is therefore disappointing that the offer has now been withdrawn, with Tuesday's judgment in the Associated Newspapers Limited case cited as the reason. Buckingham Palace has, however, been aware of that judgment since last Thursday. It is therefore unclear why, having formally accepted the accommodation offer, it has now been withdrawn at the last moment."
Impact on Family and Future Visits
The Palace's decision was reportedly made in consultation with the King, with the outcome communicated to Harry through the appropriate channels. Accommodation at a royal residence will be made available to Harry and his family for future visits, it is understood. At the weekend, it was announced Meghan, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet would no longer be joining Harry in London amid concern over their security.
No decision has been made as to whether the family will join the duke for other parts of the UK visit outside of the capital, with reports he wanted to take them to see the final resting place of his mother Diana, Princess of Wales at Althorp in Northamptonshire. Harry had also been hoping to reunite his children with their grandfather the King, who is still undergoing treatment for cancer, for the first time in four years, but it is not clear whether this will go ahead.
Security Review and Previous Criticisms
The duke had been waiting for a review by the Risk Management Board, part of the process by which the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures rules on his security requirements, but found out on Friday this has yet to take place. The Sussex family were not eligible to receive taxpayer-funded protection while in the UK, other than when they were within royal residences.
The duke criticised his father Charles, stepmother the Queen, brother the Prince of Wales and sister-in-law the Princess of Wales in his Oprah interview, Netflix documentary, interviews and his autobiography Spare, after stepping down from the working monarchy six years ago.
