Prince Harry will not stay at Buckingham Palace during his return to the UK this week, despite reports moments earlier that he had accepted an offer to stay there. A spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex revealed that Harry would use the Palace as a base during the London leg of his visit; however, the Daily Express understands that a response from the Sussexes arrived too late, and as a result, arrangements cannot be made.

The Duke of Sussex is beginning his visit on Tuesday to attend One Year to Go events for the Invictus Games. There are five days of engagements in all, which begin on Tuesday in London before moving on to Birmingham.

It was reported over the weekend that Harry will travel to the UK alone after the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (RAVEC) rejected an application for taxpayer-funded, armed police protection during the London leg of their stay. It remains to be seen whether Meghan Markle and the couple’s two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, will join him at any other point during the week in the UK.

A stay at a royal residence was originally in doubt, as Prince Harry previously turned down the chance to stay at Buckingham Palace, suggesting that it was not secure enough for him.

Last week, Prince Harry’s representatives rejected the arrangement, stating that “risk follows the person, not the place.” They emphasised that the family would still be left unprotected the moment they stepped outside of royal premises for public engagements.

Prince Harry had previously intended to travel with Meghan and their children. It has been four years since the children last saw their grandfather in person when they visited the UK for Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee in June 2022.

Harry, meanwhile, last visited the UK in September 2025 and had a brief meeting with King Charles at Clarence House.

The update comes as an official conclusion on the status of Prince Harry’s UK-based security is yet to be confirmed.

Back in May 2025, Harry lost a legal case to have his police protection reinstated whenever he returns to the UK. In a bombshell BBC interview after the ruling, Harry said that it was “too dangerous” to bring his family to the UK as he could not guarantee their safety.

In December, it was claimed that Harry’s security access when he visits the UK was under review. But no change to the arrangements has been publicly announced.

A government spokesperson said: “The UK Government’s protective security system is rigorous and proportionate. It is our longstanding policy not to provide detailed information on those arrangements, as doing so could compromise their integrity and affect individuals’ security.”