Prince Harry is reconsidering plans to bring Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and their children to the United Kingdom after officials rejected his request for taxpayer-funded police protection, placing the family’s first visit to Britain together in four years in doubt just days before their expected arrival.
LONDON, UK – Prince Harry is reconsidering plans to bring his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and their children to the United Kingdom next month after a request for taxpayer-funded police protection was denied, casting uncertainty over what would have been the family’s first visit to Britain together in four years.
The Duke of Sussex had been preparing for a five-day visit that was expected to include public engagements in London and the Midlands, alongside private family time. The trip was also intended to mark the beginning of the year-long countdown to the Invictus Games, which will be held in Birmingham next July and were founded by Prince Harry to support wounded, injured, and sick service personnel and veterans.
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According to sources familiar with the matter, Prince Harry’s team had formally requested police protection during the family’s stay in the UK while awaiting the outcome of a security review by the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec), the body responsible for determining security arrangements for senior members of the Royal Family and other protected individuals. The request was reportedly rejected on Friday, only days before the family’s planned arrival, with officials confirming that no publicly funded police security would be provided outside designated royal residences.
The decision has reportedly left Prince Harry deeply disappointed. Despite the setback, sources indicate that he remains determined to explore whether the visit can still proceed safely, although the involvement of Meghan and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, is now under review.
King Charles had extended an invitation for the Sussex family to stay at a royal estate during part of their visit, though the specific residence has not been disclosed publicly. While police protection would be available on royal property, the family would otherwise depend on the private security team accompanying them from California.
The visit carried significant personal and public importance. In addition to promoting the upcoming Invictus Games, Prince Harry was expected to meet with several charities in the UK that he has continued to support since stepping back from royal duties and relocating to the United States in 2020. Meghan was also scheduled to join him at several public engagements.
Security concerns have remained a central issue for the Duke since his departure from royal life. Last year, he lost a legal challenge seeking the restoration of automatic police protection during visits to Britain. Following that ruling, he expressed concern that it was no longer safe to bring his wife and children to the country.
In a BBC interview after the court decision, Prince Harry spoke openly about his hopes for reconciliation with the Royal Family while acknowledging the impact security concerns have had on family visits. He said he could not envision bringing Meghan and their children back to the UK under the current circumstances, adding that he continued to love his home country despite the difficulties he had experienced.
The Sussex children have not visited the United Kingdom since attending Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022, the last occasion on which King Charles saw his grandchildren in person. Prince Harry most recently met with the King in September during a private meeting at Clarence House, marking their first face-to-face encounter since February 2024.
With the planned visit drawing closer, a final decision on whether Meghan and the children will accompany Prince Harry is expected in the coming days, as the family weighs security concerns against the significance of returning to Britain for both personal reunions and public commitments.
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