Lead
Prince Harry's wife, Meghan, and their two children will not travel to London with him next week, his spokesperson has confirmed, although a visit elsewhere in Britain has not been ruled out. The decision comes after a request for taxpayer-funded police protection was denied, as reported by ABC Australia.
Harry, the younger son of King Charles, is due in London and Birmingham next week for a series of charity engagements and events promoting the 2027 Invictus Games. Meghan, Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, were expected to travel with the prince, but his spokesperson on Saturday local time said they had now dropped plans to travel to London. The Telegraph newspaper reported the decision was taken after a request for police protection was denied, according to ABC Australia.
The spokesperson added that the family had not ruled out travelling elsewhere in Britain, including to Birmingham, where Harry is due to promote the 2027 Invictus Games.
Coverage comparison
The story has been covered from several angles. ABC Australia reported on the security concerns and the family's travel plans, while France 24 — English focused on the royal family meeting at Highgrove House. The Guardian — World provided context on the reunion, noting that King Charles hosted Prince Harry and his family in a private meeting at Highgrove House in Gloucestershire on Friday afternoon.
Both The Guardian and South China Morning Post reported that Prince Harry was told he cannot stay at Buckingham Palace, citing a lack of notice and security concerns. France 24 — English also highlighted Prince Harry's ongoing court case against Associated Newspapers Ltd.
Key claims
- Family will not travel to London: Prince Harry's spokesperson confirmed that Meghan, Archie, and Lilibet will not travel to London with him next week, although a visit elsewhere in Britain has not been ruled out, as reported by ABC Australia.
- Police protection request denied: The decision was taken after a request for police protection was denied, according to The Telegraph via ABC Australia. Prince Harry has long argued security concerns put his family at risk when visiting Britain.
- Invictus Games promotion: Prince Harry will attend events promoting the 2027 Invictus Games, including an event at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, as reported by The Guardian.
- Reunion with King Charles: King Charles and Queen Camilla hosted Prince Harry and his family in a private meeting at Highgrove House, according to The Guardian and France 24 — English. Prince Harry's children, Archie and Lilibet, had not seen their grandfather since 2022.
- Accommodation dispute: Prince Harry was told he cannot stay at Buckingham Palace, as reported by The Guardian and South China Morning Post. The decision was made due to a lack of notice and security concerns.
- Court case: Prince Harry and other high-profile figures lost a court case against Associated Newspapers Ltd over unlawful information gathering, as reported by France 24 — English. The Guardian also noted that Prince Harry lost a court challenge against Associated Newspapers Ltd.
Perspectives
- Prince Harry's spokesperson: The spokesperson said the prince had accepted an invitation to stay at Buckingham Palace but that the offer was withdrawn at the last moment, describing the announcement as "disappointing." The spokesperson also said the duke continues to explore every available option to enable the visit to proceed safely.
- Buckingham Palace: The palace said that while every effort was made to facilitate the prince's stay, as a courtesy to staff and others involved, it needed a minimum level of notice to ensure he could be hosted appropriately at a royal residence. A royal source said that despite repeated requests for clarity, Harry did not respond to an invitation in time for a deadline.
- Royal commentator Afua Hagan: Speaking to ABC Australia, Hagan said there would be a "frenzy" of paparazzi attempting to capture rare photographs of Harry's children, who have always been shielded from public view.