Prince Harry arrived in the United Kingdom yesterday amidst ongoing disputes over accommodation at Buckingham Palace during his visit. The Duke of Sussex’s request to stay at the royal residence was initially declined due to timing issues and was later withdrawn, according to statements from both palace officials and Harry’s representatives.

The controversy unfolded shortly before Harry’s arrival, following weeks of back-and-forth between his team and the Palace. Sources indicate that Harry initially declined an invitation to stay at Buckingham Palace for himself and his family but reversed his decision later in the day to accept accommodation for himself alone. By that point, palace staff said that due to the late notice, appropriate hospitality and security arrangements could not be guaranteed, leading to the withdrawal of the offer.

Buckingham Palace cited several reasons for denying the stay, including operational constraints related to staffing and hospitality, as well as concerns that the timing of the Duke’s ongoing legal case against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), publisher of the Daily Mail, could compromise King Charles’s constitutional neutrality. The High Court judgment in that case was scheduled for release this Tuesday, and Palace officials reportedly felt the overlap created a conflict.

Harry’s spokesperson expressed disappointment over the withdrawal, noting that Buckingham Palace had known about the impending court ruling since the previous Thursday. They emphasized that after initial delays caused by the Royal and VIP Executive Committee’s (RAVEC) refusal to provide security for Harry’s family during the London leg of the visit, the Duke arranged alternative security and formally accepted the accommodation offer only over the weekend. The spokesperson questioned why the decision to rescind the offer came at the last moment, attributing shifts in the Palace’s reasons—from whether Harry had accepted the accommodation to the legal judgment—as a source of frustration.

The Duke and his representatives have raised suspicions about the genuineness of the accommodation offer, with some suggesting internal Palace pressures played a role in its withdrawal. Reports also surfaced of private conversations between Prince Harry and King Charles as both sides sought to navigate the delicate situation.

Harry’s family—his wife Meghan and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet—are currently not accompanying him in London, citing security concerns. Following a review, the Royal and VIP Executive Committee decided against providing taxpayer-funded armed protection for them during the visit. It remains uncertain whether they will join the Duke later in other parts of the UK, where Harry may hope to take his family to Althorp in Northamptonshire to visit Princess Diana’s grave.

The Duke is in the UK to participate in events marking one year until the next Invictus Games, a multi-sport event for wounded and sick service personnel and veterans, which will be held next summer in Birmingham. His itinerary includes several days of engagements beginning in London before moving to the Midlands.

Meanwhile, King Charles continues his duties, recently attending a Families’ Day event at the Tank Museum in Bovington, Dorset. The monarch has not seen his grandchildren since the Platinum Jubilee in 2022, and Meghan has not visited since Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in 2022.

The outcome of the High Court case against ANL, in which Harry and others including Elton John and Baroness Doreen Lawrence allege phone hacking and unlawful information gathering, is expected to be delivered imminently. ANL denies all allegations, arguing it has strong defenses and that the claims were filed too late.