Key facts
- Prince Harry is reconsidering a UK visit with his wife Meghan and children.
- His request for taxpayer-funded police protection was denied by the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec).
- The family was planning to visit for Invictus Games-related events.
- Harry previously lost a legal battle over automatic police protection in the UK.
- King Charles offered a royal estate for the family's stay.
Prince Harry is reconsidering plans to bring his wife Meghan and their two children, Archie and Lilibet, to the UK next month after his request for taxpayer-funded police protection was denied. The Duke of Sussex's team had formally requested security for the family's first visit to the UK in four years, but were informed that no police protection would be provided.
Sources indicate Prince Harry is distraught by the decision, made just days before the family's scheduled arrival. Despite this, he reportedly still wishes to find a way to proceed with the trip. The decision came after a security review by the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec), which advises the Home Office on security for senior royals.
The family had accepted an offer to stay on a royal estate as guests of King Charles, which would have provided some security. However, outside of that accommodation, Prince Harry would have been reliant on private security from California. The visit, planned for approximately five days, was intended to coincide with the year-long countdown to the Invictus Games in Birmingham next July, an event founded by Prince Harry. He was also expected to visit other UK charities he supports.
In a BBC interview, Prince Harry spoke of his desire for reconciliation with the Royal Family and expressed concerns about the safety of bringing his wife and children to the UK. He last saw his father, King Charles, in September and his grandchildren last saw the King during Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee in 2022.