King Charles III hosted a rare dinner with senior members of the Royal Family in Scotland on Tuesday, just days before Prince Harry’s planned visit to the United Kingdom. The dinner took place at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, the monarch’s official Scottish residence, and included the King, Queen Camilla, and Prince William. While the gathering had been scheduled in advance, it comes amid heightened attention to Harry’s upcoming trip, which has stirred considerable public and media interest.
King Charles is currently undertaking Royal Week in Edinburgh, a series of events celebrating Scottish culture, community, and achievement. On Wednesday, the King, Queen Camilla, Prince William, and Prince Edward attended the annual Order of the Thistle service at St Giles’ Cathedral, donning the traditional velvet cloaks associated with the Scottish chivalric order.
On the day of the dinner, Prince William, who holds the title Duke of Rothesay in Scotland, had earlier been in Aberdeen for an engagement with his Homewards initiative, a project aimed at addressing homelessness. Following this engagement, he traveled to Edinburgh to join the King and Queen for the evening meal and stayed overnight at the palace, a tradition within royal circles known as a “dine and sleep.”
Buckingham Palace declined to comment on the private dinner. The timing, coinciding with Prince Harry’s imminent arrival, is officially described as coincidental, though the visit’s surrounding circumstances likely influenced private discussions.
Prince Harry’s trip, announced last Friday, is expected to last up to two weeks and includes several public engagements. He plans to bring his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and their children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five. The visit marks the children’s first return to the UK in four years. Harry hopes for the children to meet their grandfather, King Charles, who has met Princess Lilibet only once and Prince Archie on a few occasions. Buckingham Palace emphasized that any family reunions would be held privately.
Traditionally, royal accommodation has been offered to the Duke of Sussex during his visits to the UK, but Harry has consistently declined, opting instead to stay in hotels or with friends. As of now, no arrangements for a residence have been accepted for this visit.
Tensions emerged shortly after Harry’s itinerary was revealed, when his team raised concerns about security provisions for the trip. Harry had requested reconsideration from the Home Secretary for round-the-clock protection for himself and his family, citing safety concerns. This request follows a previous court ruling that removed his entitlement to police protection after he stepped back from royal duties and relocated abroad. Royal insiders expressed confusion and frustration as there has been no change in his security status since the ruling, and the timing of the announcement suggested the visit was being jeopardized.
Despite these issues, Harry’s representatives have indicated the prince intends to proceed with his trip and is exploring alternatives to ensure the safety of his family during their stay in the UK. The situation remains fluid as the visit approaches later this week.