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.
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.
The spokesperson added, however, that the family had not ruled out travelling elsewhere in Britain, including to Birmingham, where Harry is due to promote the 2027 Invictus Games.
Harry ‘to explore every available option’
Harry has repeatedly expressed a desire to bring his children to Britain, which they have not visited for several years, but has said concerns about security have complicated those plans.
“The Duke continues to explore every available option to enable the visit to proceed safely and to give his children the opportunity to enjoy the UK,” his spokesperson said earlier this week.
Harry lost a court challenge to keep his police protection last year. (AP: Alastair Grant)
The prince has long argued security concerns put his family at risk when visiting Britain.
Last year, he lost a legal challenge against a government decision to remove the automatic police protection afforded to him after he stepped down from royal duties in 2020 and moved to the US with Meghan.
The planned visit had raised the prospect of a rare meeting between Archie and Lilibet and their grandfather, King Charles, who has seen little of the children in recent years as relations between Harry and the royal family remain strained.
Harry’s UK visit is expected to include engagements linked to the Invictus Games. (Reuters: Piroschka Van De Wouw/File Photo)
Harry said in a BBC interview last year he wanted a reconciliation with his family after years of public disputes, including criticism of royal life in television interviews and in his 2023 memoir, Spare.
His trip next week also coincides with a closely watched court ruling in his privacy claim against Associated Newspapers, publisher of the Daily Mail.
Harry is expected to attend engagements linked to the Invictus Games, the sporting competition for wounded and injured military veterans that he founded and which Birmingham will host in 2027.
Reuters
