Prince Harry reconsidering taking Meghan and children on UK trip

According to information obtained by the BBC, the Duke of Sussex is re-evaluating his plans to bring his wife and children to England next month after his request for police protection was rejected.

Prince Harry, his wife Meghan and their two children, Archie and Lilibet, were to make a family visit to England for the first time in four years.

His team had made a formal request for police security while in England but are understood to have been told on Friday that no taxpayer-funded security would be provided.

Sources say Prince Harry was devastated by the decision, which was made just days before the family was due to arrive, but still wanted to find a way to make the trip work.

The prince’s team was awaiting the outcome of a security review by the Home Office’s Royal and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec), which decides on security provisions for senior royals.

After details of his visit to England were announced on Friday, his team were told the family would not be provided with any police protection.

Prince Harry and Meghan had already accepted an offer to stay at the royal mansion during the trip as guests of King Charles, although the location of the chosen royal residence has not been publicly disclosed.

They were also expected to use private accommodation while in the UK.

Police protection would be available while staying at the royal mansion, but outside of these times Prince Harry would have to rely on the private security team traveling with him from California.

The family was supposed to be in England for about five days.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, was planning to attend a series of public events in London and the Midlands with her husband.

The visit is timed to mark the start of the year-long countdown to the Invictus Games for injured military personnel, to be held in Birmingham next July. Prince Harry is the founder of games.

He was also expected to visit other UK-based charities, which he has continued to support since his move to California.

On previous visits, Prince Harry had rejected an offer to stay at Buckingham Palace due to concerns about the use of such a high-profile, visible building.

He lost a legal battle to have regular police protection while visiting England last year.

In an interview with BBC News following the decision, Prince Harry spoke of his desire to “reconcile” with the Royal Family. He also said he was concerned it would not be safe to bring his wife and children back to his country of birth.

“At this point I’m bringing my wife and kids back to the UK and I don’t see a world where there’s everything they’re going to miss,” he said. “You know I love my country, I’ve always done that despite what some people in the country have done.”

The King will last see his grandchildren with Queen Elizabeth II in 2022. He had seen it in person during Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

Prince Harry last saw his father in September, having tea with the King at Clarence House, their first face-to-face meeting since February 2024.

The final decision regarding the trip and the participation of Prince Harry’s wife and children will be made in the coming days.