Prince Harry's request to stay at Buckingham Palace withdrawn after missed deadline

Prince Harry will not be able to stay at Buckingham Palace during his London visit this week after missing the deadline to formally accept the royal accommodation offer, a palace source said. The duke of Sussex had not responded by the end of last week, and the palace indicated that sufficient notice is needed to arrange staffing and security for a guest.

Initial reports suggested the duke had turned down the offer on Saturday, then later indicated a personal request for the residence. By that time, palace officials said it was too late to make the necessary arrangements. The decision coincides with the pending judgment in Harry’s legal case against Associated Newspapers Limited, which is expected on Tuesday.

A spokesperson for the duke said Harry accepted the invitation for himself over the weekend but that the offer was subsequently withdrawn. The spokesperson added that Harry arranged alternative security after being told taxpayer-funded police protection would not be provided, and that the palace was aware of the upcoming judgment since last Thursday.

Harry’s wife, Meghan, and their children, Archie and Lilibet, will not accompany him on the trip, pending a decision on their police protection. The visit is intended to mark the one-year countdown to the Invictus Games and include other charitable engagements. The duke continues to dispute the UK government’s security arrangements, which were reduced after he and Meghan stepped back from royal duties in 2020.