The details of Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and their children’s visit to England are taking shape, but a cloud still hangs over the itinerary. On Monday, June 29, just a few days before his return to his homeland, a spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex stated that Harry “continues to explore every available option” to ensure that the visit proceed safely and “to give his children the opportunity to enjoy the U.K.”
The spokesperson continued, as reported by People: “Prince Harry’s programme in the United Kingdom includes both public and private engagements across the country. Safe accommodation is only one element of an effective protective security plan because risk follows the person, not the place.”
King Charles has offered his son and his family the opportunity to stay at one of the Crown’s properties— reportedly Buckingham Palace, in the heart of London. The Sussexes have reportedly not yet responded to the invitation, but the monarch’s offer still stands, a palace source told the American media outlet.
Prince Harry’s statement sounds like a response to his father’s policy of neutrality: while King Charles has agreed to offer the Sussexes a place to stay, he refuses to intervene on security matters. This is a course of action he has followed ever since his son embarked on a legal battle to regain the systematic police protection (funded by taxpayers) that he had to give up when he left England and his royal duties in 2020. The Duke believes that, in his absence, his safety and that of his family cannot be adequately ensured. The final decision will be made by RAVEC (the Executive Committee for the Protection of the Royal Family and Public Figures), which began a new risk assessment in late 2025. In the absence of a satisfactory security arrangement, Prince Harry is reportedly considering bringing his own security team, as revealed by British media a few days ago.
Prince Harry, Markle, and their children will arrive in England next week. Their trip—their first as a family of four since Queen Elizabeth II’s jubilee in 2022—is part of preparations for the Invictus Games, the sports competition for veterans and war-wounded individuals launched by Prince Harry in 2014, which will be held in July 2027 in Birmingham. The Sussexes will fulfill various engagements, including a visit to the Invictus Games Foundation at Chatham House in London, as well as to the Royal Hospital in Chelsea. The prince will also visit Birmingham Children’s Hospital before officially launching the countdown to the upcoming Games.
Archie and Lilibet, Meghan and Harry’s children, will not accompany their parents during their public appearances. However, they are expected to see their grandfather in private, as a meeting—their first since 2022—is reportedly on the agenda. The Sussexes are also reportedly considering a visit to Althorp Estate, where Princess Diana is buried; she would have turned 65 on Wednesday, July 1. The Sussexes are reportedly already in Europe, enjoying a few days of vacation before their trip to England.
Originally published by Vanity Fair France