Prince Harry has accepted an invitation to stay at Buckingham Palace during part of his visit to London this week, marking a notable royal development ahead of the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham.According to the BBC, the Duke of Sussex will be in the UK for preparations related to the Invictus Games, along with a series of charity engagements. His spokesman confirmed that Harry will remain at Buckingham Palace during part of the visit.
It is unlikely that Meghan, Archie and Lilibet will join the London visit
Harry is expected to travel without his wife, Meghan Markle, and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, during the London leg of the trip. The decision is linked to ongoing concerns about security after the family was denied taxpayer-funded police protection in the UK.However, reports suggest that Meghan and the children could join Harry later in Birmingham, where he is set to promote the Invictus Games and visit Birmingham Children’s Hospital and the National Exhibition Centre, the venue of the event.
Focus on a possible reunion with King Charles
The visit renewed speculation about whether Harry will meet King Charles. It remains unclear whether the king will get the chance to see Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, whom he is said to have not met in person for four years.
Harry last met his father during a visit to the UK in September. Before that, the two briefly reunited after Charles was diagnosed with cancer.
The security conflict remains a central issue
The Duke’s long-running dispute over security arrangements continues to affect his visits to Britain. The dispute dates back to 2020, when Harry and Meghan stepped down as senior members of the royal family and moved to the United States.UK authorities have since ruled that police protection for Harry will be assessed on a case-by-case basis rather than provided automatically.
Harry has appealed this decision in court, repeatedly saying that security concerns prevented him from bringing his family to the UK.In an interview with the BBC in 2025, Harry said he could not “see a world” in which he would return Meghan and their children to Britain without improving security arrangements.
A possible visit to Princess Diana’s resting place
Reports have also suggested that the final part of Harry’s UK visit could include a private trip to Althorp House, the Northamptonshire estate of his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.It is understood there were plans for Meghan and the children to accompany him there to visit Diana’s grave, although it remains uncertain whether that will happen.Harry and Meghan last met in the United Kingdom in 2022, when they attended the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. Since then, the Duke has made solo visits to Britain while the Duchess and their children remain in California.