Prince Harry is due to arrive in London alone this week, without his wife Meghan or their two young children, after the UK government refused to provide taxpayer-funded police protection for his family. The visit, which includes preparations for the Invictus Games in Birmingham next year, has thrown a spotlight on the long-running dispute over the Duke of Sussex's security arrangements since he stepped back as a senior royal in 2020.
On Monday 6 July 2026, Harry formally accepted an invitation from the royal family to stay at Buckingham Palace for part of his stay. A spokesperson confirmed the arrangement. The duke is expected to attend charity events and promote the Invictus Games, which will be held in Birmingham in July 2027. However, Meghan, Archie (aged seven) and Lilibet (aged five) will not join him in London after a request for police security was denied. It remains possible they could travel to Birmingham later in the week, but no decision has been made.
“Prince Harry's ongoing security dispute with the UK government prevents family reunions.”
The security dispute dates back to early 2020, when Harry and Meghan announced they would step down as senior working royals and move to the United States. The Royal and VIP Executive Committee's Risk Management Board (RAVEC), which decides protective security for members of the royal family and VIPs, ruled that because Harry would be an infrequent visitor to the UK, his security would be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Harry challenged this decision in court, arguing it was unfair. The legal battle concluded last year with the denial of publicly funded protection. Since then, Harry has said he cannot bring his family back to the UK without improved security arrangements, telling the BBC in 2025: 'I cannot see a world in which I would be bringing my wife and children back to the UK at this point.'
For UK readers, the row raises questions about how the royal family and the taxpayer balance security costs with family ties. The last time the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were together in the UK was in September 2022, for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. Harry has visited alone since, including a meeting with King Charles at Clarence House in September 2025. But his children have not seen their grandfather in four years. The King had hoped to meet them during this visit, but the revised schedule has cast doubt on a reunion.
Q: Why won't Meghan and the children travel to London? Prince Harry decided not to bring his family after a request for taxpayer-funded police protection was denied. Without that security, he believes it would not be safe for them to be in the UK, citing the risk of being followed by paparazzi.
Q: What is the security dispute about? When Harry and Meghan stepped back as senior royals in 2020, they lost the automatic right to state-funded police protection. The RAVEC committee now assesses Harry's security needs on a case-by-case basis for each visit. Harry has challenged this in court, arguing it is unjust, but the decision has not been reversed.
Q: Will Prince Harry meet King Charles? It is unclear whether a meeting will take place. The pair had tea at Clarence House in September 2025, their first meeting in over a year. Any plans for this week are being made privately between them. A reunion with Archie and Lilibet is now unlikely under the current schedule.
What happens next remains uncertain. Harry's itinerary includes the Invictus Games countdown events, but no public engagements with the King have been announced. The possibility of Meghan and the children joining him in Birmingham later in the week has not been ruled out. The emotional and practical fallout of the security dispute will continue to affect the royal family's relationships as the Invictus Games approach.