Buckingham Palace Withdraws Offer to Stay, Harry Comes to London Alone

JAKARTA - Prince Harry's visit to London was again colored by controversy before it began. The offer to stay at Buckingham Palace was said to have been withdrawn at the last minute, after the Duke of Sussex was said to have officially accepted it.

In a statement obtained by People, quoted on Monday, July 6, Harry's spokesperson said the offer of accommodation at the royal residence had been withdrawn on Monday, July 6. The statement came after the BBC first reported that Harry would stay at Buckingham Palace while in London.

Harry, 41, is scheduled to arrive in London alone. His wife, Meghan Markle, and their two children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, did not accompany him on the trip.

The decision is related to unresolved security issues. The Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures or RAVEC did not provide official security funded by taxpayers for Harry and his family on this visit.

RAVEC is a committee in the UK that regulates protection for members of the royal family and certain public figures. After stepping down from royal roles in 2020, Harry and Meghan lost state-funded security in the UK.

Harry's team is said to have spent several days preparing alternative security, including a personal security package. After the arrangements were ready, Harry could only accept the offer of royal accommodation for himself at the weekend.

"Following the decision of RAVEC not to provide security for his family, Duke spent last week arranging alternative security. Once the arrangements were in place, he was able to formally accept an offer of accommodation for himself over the weekend," a spokesman for Harry said in the statement.

However, the offer was later withdrawn. Harry's side cited the reason given in relation to the Associated Newspapers Limited case ruling to be read on Tuesday, July 7.

Associated Newspapers Limited is the publisher of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday. Harry, along with a number of other figures, including Elton John and Elizabeth Hurley, sued the publisher. A royal source said King Charles should not be seen in a position that could be seen as affecting a legal matter that is still ongoing.

Harry's spokesman questioned the reason. According to him, Buckingham Palace had known the schedule of the ruling since last Thursday.

"Therefore, it is unclear why, after the accommodation offer was officially accepted, the offer was now withdrawn at the last minute," said Harry's spokesman.

Royal sources gave a different version. They said Harry had until last weekend to accept the offer so that the staff of the Royal Household could prepare for his arrival. Harry was said to have rejected the invitation on Saturday, July 4, before accepting it later that day.

The confusion was further felt because the BBC's initial report said Harry would live at Buckingham Palace. However, the palace later stated that the information was not true.

People previously reported that Harry judged that the security in London was not enough to bring Meghan and their children. It is not clear whether Meghan, Archie, and Lilibet will join another part of Harry's visit outside London.

During his time in London, Harry has a series of Invictus Games-related agendas. His visit also coincides with the countdown to the next Invictus Games, which will be held in Birmingham, England, in July 2027.

On the same day as the Invictus Games agenda, Harry will also hear the verdict in a case against the publishers of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday.

According to People, Harry and Meghan had previously hoped to bring Archie and Lilibet back to England for the first time since 2022. Harry is said to want his children to feel the country where he grew up and have the opportunity to meet their grandfather, King Charles.

However, Meghan and the children's absence from the London agenda makes the possibility of a family reunion a question mark again.