Security Concerns Shape Travel Plans

Prince Harry will visit London alone next week for a series of engagements, including events leading up to the 2027 Invictus Games, which he founded in 2014 for wounded veterans. His wife. Meghan Markle. And their children. Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5, will not accompany him on the London portion of the trip, according to a source close to the Duke of Sussex. The decision follows ongoing concerns about their safety during U.K. visits.

Harry had previously lost a court case in 2023 to reinstate taxpayer-funded police protection for his family during visits to the U.K. after stepping back from royal duties in 2020. He told the BBC last year. “It’s impossible for me to take my family back to the U.K. safely.” The family has not been in the U.K. together since the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022, according to USA Today.

Arrangements for the rest of the trip are still under consideration, and it remains unclear whether Meghan and the children will join Harry outside of London, as reported by The Sun and CBS News. A source close to Harry said last month that the family would stay at a royal residence and would be guests of King Charles III, according to the BBC. However, a spokesman for Harry told USA Today that the issue has “never been accommodation,” but rather whether “appropriate and proportionate protective security” is provided throughout the visit.

Invictus Games and Family Reconnection

Harry’s visit is timed with the one-year countdown to the 2027 Invictus Games, which will be held from July 10 to 17 — the event was founded by Harry to support wounded military veterans. This is the first time in four years that the Sussexes have planned a trip back to the U.K., but security concerns have complicated the plans.

The prince has long expressed a desire for his children to become more familiar with the U.K., where he was born, and to strengthen ties with his father, King Charles III. In the past. Harry has spoken about his hope for a reconciliation with the royal family, and Charles has reportedly offered the family the use of a royal residence during their visit, according to the People magazine and n-tv.de. However, the security concerns remain unresolved, as Harry’s team is not satisfied with the level of protection available beyond royal properties.

Unpredictable Travel Plans and Media Frenzy

The uncertainty around the trip has also led to media speculation and confusion. According to GALA.de, a journalist for the Daily Mail, Richard Eden, reported that the Sussexes’ communications team had shared a detailed itinerary for the visit with select journalists via WhatsApp, only to retract it later. Liam Maguire, the couple’s communications chief, initially shared the plan but then revised it, leading to public confusion about the actual details of the trip.

Eden noted that the group chat was previously unknown, and Maguire had not invited him to participate. However, within the circle of high-profile royal experts in the U.K., such communication channels are common. The incident has brought the Sussexes’ security and privacy concerns into sharper focus, according to the report.

As the trip approaches, all details remain fluid. A spokesman for Harry said last month that they are “studying all available options” to ensure the visit is “safe” and allows his children to “enjoy the U.K.,” according to La Razón. The final decision will likely depend on whether a secure plan can be put in place for the entire duration of their stay.