After four years away, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are preparing to bring their children Archie and Lilibet to the UK for the first time since 2022. The family has been offered accommodation on a royal estate, but the visit is about more than just catching up with relatives — it shines a light on the ongoing rift between the Sussexes and the rest of the Royal Family.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will travel from their home in Montecito, California, next month with their son Archie, seven, and daughter Lilibet, five. The visit is expected to last up to two weeks from around July 6, and will include events marking the one-year countdown to the 2027 Invictus Games, which will be hosted in Birmingham. The BBC reports that the family has been offered rooms on a royal estate, but they have not yet responded. On previous trips, Prince Harry turned down the chance to stay at Buckingham Palace because of security concerns — the building is too high-profile and visible. It is not yet clear which residence has been offered this time.
“Prince Harry and Meghan are visiting the UK with their children for the first time in four years – here’s what you need to know.”
The last time the King saw his grandchildren in person was during Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022. Since then, the relationship between Harry and the rest of the family has been strained. In 2020, the couple stepped back from royal duties and moved to the US. Since then, Harry has given a series of interviews, released a memoir titled *Spare*, and taken part in a Netflix documentary, in which he made a barrage of accusations against the King, Queen Camilla, the Prince of Wales and the Princess of Wales. In a 2025 BBC interview, Harry said he wanted a “reconciliation” with his family but added that he “can’t see a world in which I would be bringing my wife and children back to the UK” — a statement that has now been proved wrong. He also lost a Court of Appeal challenge against the Home Office over his right to police protection while in the UK, arguing that his birth status made him a target.
For British readers, the strained royal dynamics are a matter of public interest because the monarchy is a national institution, partly funded by taxpayers. Harry’s security arrangements are a particularly sensitive issue: any additional protection during his visit will be decided by the Home Office. There is also the Invictus Games, a major event for injured military personnel that will be held in Birmingham next July. Harry founded the Games in 2014, and his commitment to it remains strong.
Q: Why do Harry and Meghan need special security when they visit the UK? Harry lost a legal challenge in 2025 against the Home Office over the level of police protection he receives while in the UK. He argues that his status as a royal makes him a target, and he has said he cannot bring his family to the UK unless security is adequate. For this visit, he has reportedly been assured that sufficient security provisions will be in place.
Q: Have the King and Prince Harry met recently? Yes, but only briefly. In September 2025, Harry met his father at Clarence House — their first face-to-face meeting since February 2024. The King is still undergoing treatment for cancer. It is not yet known whether Charles will see his son, daughter-in-law or grandchildren during this visit. Buckingham Palace has declined to comment, describing any potential meeting as a private family matter.
Q: What are the Invictus Games? The Invictus Games are an international multi-sport event for wounded, injured or sick armed services personnel and veterans, founded by Prince Harry in 2014. Next year’s Games will be held in Birmingham in July 2027. Harry is due to attend a series of events in the UK next month to mark the one-year countdown.
The visit is a delicate moment for all involved. A source close to Harry told the Daily Mail that the Duke wants to show his children his “homeland” and the “wider family”, and that it has been “a real point of great sadness” not to have been able to bring his wife and children to the UK sooner. But other royal sources have suggested the visit could re-ignite discussions around “personal family dynamics” and distract from the King’s work. For now, the offer of a royal residence stands, but the Sussexes have not yet accepted. The King’s schedule for July is not shared with them, so any meeting remains uncertain. The next few weeks will reveal whether this trip marks a step toward reconciliation or another chapter in the family’s public tensions.