The Palace has withdrawn its offer of accommodation for Prince Harry during his upcoming London visit, escalating tensions within the royal family. The development comes as the Duke of Sussex prepares to be in the United Kingdom for a significant legal case beginning July 7.According to PEOPLE magazine, the Palace initially extended an invitation for Prince Harry to stay at a royal residence while in town. The Duke reportedly accepted this offer on Saturday, July 4. However, the same offer was withdrawn that same evening, according to the publication.
Competing explanations for the withdrawal
Prince Harry’s representative provided a statement to the outlet addressing the sudden reversal. The statement outlined the sequence of events leading to the accommodation dispute. “I am aware of multiple briefings from Buckingham Palace last week suggesting that the Duke had not accepted the offer of accommodation at a Royal Residence,” the representative said.The statement continued with clarification about the acceptance and withdrawal. “Following RAVEC’s decision not to provide security for his family, the Duke spent last week making alternative security arrangements. Once those arrangements were in place, he was able to formally accept the offer of accommodation for himself over the weekend.”The representative expressed frustration about the sudden withdrawal. “It is therefore disappointing that the offer has now been withdrawn, with Tuesday’s judgment in the Associated Newspapers Limited case cited as the reason. Buckingham Palace has, however, been aware of that judgment since last Thursday. It is therefore unclear why, having formally accepted the accommodation offer, it has now been withdrawn at the last moment,” the statement concluded.
The Duke of Sussex arrives in London as he prepares for legal proceedings against Associated Newspapers Limited.Image credit (Instagram)
Alternative account of the timeline
However, the BBC presented a different account of the situation. According to that outlet Prince Harry “had not responded in time to the offer of accommodation at a royal residence” and was informed on Saturday evening that he would not be able to stay at the Palace. This explanation suggests a procedural issue rather than a deliberate withdrawal based on the upcoming legal judgment.
Context of security concerns and legal proceedings
The accommodation dispute occurs amid ongoing security complications surrounding Prince Harry’s visit. The Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures determined that it would not provide taxpayer-funded security for the Duke’s family during the UK visit creating significant logistical challenges for the planned trip.Prince Harry’s legal case against Associated Newspapers Limited is commencing on July 7 coinciding with the first day of his visit to London. The timing of the accommodation withdrawal in relation to this judgment represents another layer of complexity in the already complicated circumstances surrounding his return to the United Kingdom.
