Buckingham Palace and Prince Harry have offered conflicting accounts over accommodation arrangements during the Duke of Sussex's visit to London, after the palace said he would not be staying at a royal residence despite his team previously announcing that he had accepted an invitation.
According to Buckingham Palace, Prince Harry was initially offered accommodation at a royal residence but failed to confirm in time whether he would accept.
Palace sources said the Duke formally declined the invitation before later attempting to reverse his decision on Saturday, by which point arrangements and staffing could no longer be made.
Officials added that Harry was informed on Saturday evening that he would not be able to stay at the palace.
A spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex disputed that version of events, saying the accommodation offer had been formally accepted before it was unexpectedly withdrawn.
The spokesperson described the decision as "disappointing" and questioned why the offer had been rescinded after it had already been accepted.
The disagreement has exposed continuing tensions between Buckingham Palace and Prince Harry's team, with both sides publicly maintaining contradictory accounts of the events.
Palace sources also indicated there were concerns about Prince Harry staying at a royal residence while a court ruling in his legal dispute with Associated Newspapers is due to be published, arguing it could create difficult optics for King Charles, who is expected to remain neutral on the case.
Harry's representatives rejected that explanation, insisting the timing of the court decision had been known in advance.
Despite the accommodation dispute, Prince Harry is expected to proceed with his scheduled engagements in the UK this week, including events promoting the 2027 Invictus Games, which will be held in Birmingham, and visits supporting several charitable initiatives.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and the couple's children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, are not accompanying Harry during the London portion of the trip after it was confirmed they would not receive taxpayer-funded police protection while in the United Kingdom.
However, they could still join him later in Birmingham for Invictus Games-related events.
The latest disagreement may also complicate any potential meeting between Prince Harry and King Charles during the visit, as the strained relationship between the two sides continues amid ongoing disputes over security arrangements and legal proceedings.
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