Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have reportedly been extended an offer to stay in royal accommodation during their upcoming visit to the UK. The couple, now residing in the exclusive town of Montecito, California, are planning a brief return to Britain next month.
Previously, Harry declined an offer to stay at Buckingham Palace due to security concerns surrounding its high-profile status. The specific royal residence offered to them for their upcoming trip, marking their first family visit to the UK in four years, has not been disclosed.
Assurances have been made to the duke regarding the security arrangements for their visit. The Sussexes, accompanied by their children Archie and Lilibet, are yet to respond to the accommodation offer.
Their children last saw their grandfather, the King, during Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022. It remains uncertain if the King will meet his youngest grandchildren during their stay.
The couple’s trip is in connection with the one-year countdown to the upcoming Invictus Games in Birmingham. Harry recently met with his father, Charles, after a prolonged period, during which Charles was undergoing cancer treatment.
In a previous legal battle over security arrangements in the UK, Harry expressed hopes for reconciliation with his family. He mentioned that Charles refused to communicate with him due to the security dispute, leading him to doubt returning to the UK with his family.
Having stepped back from royal duties in 2020, Harry has made various accusations against the King, Queen, Prince of Wales, and Princess of Wales in public appearances and his autobiography since moving to the US.
Harry has alleged that Charles harbored jealousy towards Meghan and Kate, didn’t console him when Princess Diana passed, and wasn’t suited for single parenthood. The duke claimed Charles pleaded with his sons not to make his final years miserable during a tense meeting after Prince Philip’s funeral.
Despite reconciliation attempts, Harry and William remain estranged, with Harry recounting an incident where William allegedly physically confronted him.
The upcoming Invictus Games, a sporting event for wounded service personnel and veterans, is scheduled to take place in Birmingham from July 10-17 next year.
The Mirror has reached out to both the Palace and the Sussexes for comments.