The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have accepted an offer from King Charles III to stay at a royal residence during their first family trip to the UK in four years, a decision that has raised hopes of a potential thaw in relations with the royal family.
Prince Harry and Meghan, along with their children, Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, will travel from their home in California for the visit in July. The couple, who stepped back from royal duties in 2020, have previously declined offers to stay at royal properties, but this time accepted the King’s invitation to stay on a royal estate. It is understood that the family will stay in a mixture of royal residences and private accommodation during their time in the UK.
The trip coincides with the one-year countdown to the Invictus Games, a sporting competition for wounded veterans founded by Prince Harry, which will be held in Birmingham next year. Harry is also expected to visit other UK-based charities he continues to support. Meghan is set to join her husband at the Invictus event in Birmingham, but their children are not expected to make any public appearances.
The decision to accept the King’s offer to stay on a royal estate is a significant development, as Harry had previously stated that safety concerns had made it “impossible” to bring his family back to the UK. A report from The Mirror indicates the couple has been assured of “adequate security provision” for the trip, though Buckingham Palace has not offered any extra security. Harry lost a legal battle last year to have taxpayer-funded police protection reinstated while in the UK.
Last year, Prince Harry had tea with his father at Clarence House, which was their first face-to-face meeting in 19 months. While the King is likely to meet with his son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren if a request is made, a meeting with Prince William is not currently planned, with their relationship described as being at “rock bottom”.
