Prince Harry is still ‘looking forward’ to spending time with King despite Buckingham Palace row as Meghan hopes she can ‘safely’ bring their two children to the UK and attend Invictus Games events herself

Prince Harry is still ‘looking forward’ to spending time with King Charles this week despite his offer to spend a night at Buckingham Palace being withdrawn.

A source close to the Invictus Games in Birmingham has claimed Meghan Markle is set to visit the UK in the next few days due to a dispute over security and accommodation.

The insider added that the Sussexes are still hoping to bring Archie and Lilibet to the UK ‘provided it can happen safely’.

A spokesman confirmed on Monday afternoon that the Duke of Sussex, 41, had landed in England amid the controversy.

After 10 days of travel back and forth, and just hours before his arrival, the prince’s journey was thrown into further chaos when he was told he could no longer stay at Buckingham Palace.

Harry was apparently notified by royal officials on Saturday night. However, 36 hours later, his own team announced to the world that he would remain there.

The Duke was told that it was taking him too long to accept the King’s invitation. In response, Harry’s spokesman went nuclear and issued a statement accusing the Palace of withdrawing the offer ‘at the last minute’.

But despite the bitter back-and-forth, Harry wants to see his father and is hopeful his wife and children can join him in Britain when he leaves London for Birmingham this week.

The Duke of Sussex would also love to have Archie and Lilibet in the UK this week – but only if it can be done safely

‘Harry is still looking forward to seeing Charles, which he is looking forward to,’ the Mail insider said.

Meghan is still expected to attend the Invictus events in Birmingham, with the Games only a year away on Friday.

The Sussexes are holidaying in Europe and it’s not out of the question for Archie and Lilibet to join them and potentially be in and out of the UK within 24 hours.

‘They are working on ways to make this happen safely,’ the source said.

Harry hoped that his wife and children would accompany him to England for five days.

His visit coincides with the countdown to the Invictus Games in Birmingham in 2027.

As well as visiting King Charles, the trip was to include a poignant stop at Althorp Manor in Northamptonshire, where Harry’s mother Princess Diana is buried.

Archie and Lilibet, Queen Elizabeth II They have not seen their grandfather since their last trip to England in June 2022 for Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

As resentment grew on both sides throughout the trip, it is understood the duke initially turned down an offer to stay at Buckingham Palace on Saturday for himself and his family, who were no longer accompanying him to London, before making a U-turn later in the day and demanding to stay himself.

We were told that adequate accommodation and staffing were no longer available.

It was understood that the Duke wanted to stay at the Palace for one night.

On the Sussex side, questions have been raised about whether the offer of a bed in the royal residence will be available after Harry accepts.

Private meetings are said to have taken place between the duke and his father.

A spokesman for the Duke said: ‘I am aware that there have been numerous briefings from Buckingham Palace over the past week that the Duke has not accepted the offer of accommodation at the royal residence.

‘Following RAVEC’s decision not to ensure the safety of his family, the Duke has spent the past week making alternative security arrangements.

‘Once these arrangements were made he was able to formally accept the offer of weekend accommodation for himself.’

The spokesman added: ‘It is therefore disappointing that the proposal has been withdrawn, citing Tuesday’s decision in the Associated Newspapers Limited case.

However, Buckingham Palace has been aware of this decision since last Thursday. So it’s unclear why he backed out at the last minute after formally accepting the offer of accommodation.’

Amid the drama surrounding his son’s visit, King Charles appeared to be having fun as he boarded a British Army Challenger 3 battle tank in Bovington, Dorset, on Monday

The Palace’s decision was said to have been made in consultation with the King and the outcome was communicated to Harry through the appropriate channels.

It is understood Harry and his family will be provided with accommodation at the royal residence for future visits.

Over the weekend, it was announced that Meghan, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet will no longer be joining Harry in London due to concerns for their safety.

No decision has been made on whether the family will join the Duke for other parts of his UK visit outside the capital.

Harry had also hoped to reunite his children with their grandfather, the King, who is still being treated for cancer, for the first time in four years, but it is unclear whether this will happen.

It is also not yet known for certain whether and when Harry will see his father during his journey. Although it is said that both father and son are willing.

The King has a busy schedule of talks this week, while Harry is appearing for five days in London and Birmingham, including to mark the one-year countdown to the 2027 Invictus Games.

The Duke was awaiting a review by the Risk Management Board (RMB), which is part of the Executive Committee for the Protection of the Royal Family and Public Figures (Ravec) decision-making process on security requirements, but learned on Friday that this had not yet happened.

The Sussexes were not eligible to receive taxpayer-funded protection while in the UK outside their royal residence.

The Duke had criticized his father Charles, the Queen’s stepmother, the brother of the Prince of Wales and the Princess of Wales in his Oprah interview, Netflix documentary, interviews and his autobiography Spare, after leaving the working monarchy six years ago.