Britain’s Duke of Sussex will not stay at Buckingham Palace during his return to the UK, as the accommodation arrangements for his trip descended into disarray.
A spokesman for Harry said it was “disappointing” the offer from the UK’s king had been “withdrawn at the last moment”, with the looming judgment in the duke’s case against Associated Newspaper on Tuesday given as the reason.
As exasperation appeared to grow on both sides, it is understood the duke initially turned down the offer for himself and his family, who are no longer accompanying him to London, on Saturday, before making a U-turn later in the day and asking 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.
It is said that while every effort was made to facilitate Harry’s stay, as a courtesy to staff and others involved, the UK’s Royal Household requires a minimum level of notice to ensure he could be hosted appropriately at a royal residence.
Harry and a group of other household names are set to find out on Tuesday whether they have won their cases in the London High Court against the Daily Mail’s publisher, in an expected written ruling by Mr Justice Nicklin.
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.
“It is therefore disappointing that the offer has now been withdrawn, with Tuesday’s judgment in the Associated Newspapers Limited case cited as the reason.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 It is therefore unclear why, having formally accepted the accommodation offer, it has now been withdrawn at the last moment.”
The decision was said to have been taken in consultation with the king, with 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, and their children Archie and 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 London, with reports he wanted to take them to see the final resting place of his mother Diana, 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.
It is also not yet known when or whether Harry will see his father during his trip.
The King has a busy run of engagements this week, while Harry is carrying out five days of appearances in London and Birmingham, including marking the one-year countdown to the 2027 Invictus Games.
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Meanwhile, during an 11-week trial earlier this year, the High Court in London heard claims, brought by Harry and others including Baroness Doreen Lawrence, Elton John and his husband David Furnish, against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) of unlawful information-gathering.
These include allegations of voicemail interception, landline tapping and obtaining information by deception – also known as “blagging”, carried out by private investigators, freelance journalists and ANL staff.
ANL strongly denies the claims and defended the case, saying it “has established a complete defence to all parts of the claims on the merits” and that the cases have been brought too late.
