Just days after suggesting the Sussex family would travel to Britain together, Prince Harry has changed course. With his security concerns in the U.K. still unresolved, the Duke of Sussex will now head to London without Meghan Markle, Prince Archie of Sussex, or Princess Lilibet of Sussex.
A spokesperson for the Duke confirmed the change in a statement to USA Today, marking another development in the family’s long-running dispute over security arrangements in the U.K. Harry is still expected to attend events tied to the lead-up to the Invictus Games Birmingham 2027, but Meghan and the couple’s children will not be joining him for the London visit. The spokesperson also noted that Meghan, Archie, and Lilibet could still reunite with Harry later in the trip, although those plans have yet to be finalized.
The latest change comes just days after it appeared the Sussex family was preparing for a long-awaited return to Britain together. Harry had agreed to King Charles III’s offer to stay at a royal residence during the visit, a move that would have ensured security while they remained on royal grounds. However, Harry’s representatives have maintained that their concerns extend beyond the estate’s boundaries.
“The issue has never been accommodation,” a spokesperson for Harry previously said. “The issue is whether appropriate and proportionate protective security is being provided throughout the entirety of the visit.” Harry has consistently argued that security should protect the individual wherever they go, not just at a specific location.
The issue of security has remained a central part of Harry’s life since stepping back from royal duties. After he and Meghan stepped down as senior working royals in 2020 and moved to California, they lost their taxpayer-funded police protection in the U.K. Harry later challenged that decision in court but ultimately lost his appeal, a ruling he said made it impossible to safely bring his family back to Britain.
Following the court’s decision, Harry admitted he no longer believed there was a viable way to return under the current arrangements.
“I can’t see a world in which I would be bringing my wife and children back to the U.K. at this point,” he said.
He also spoke about the emotional toll of the situation, saying, “I miss the U.K., I miss parts of the U.K., of course I do,” before adding that it was “really quite sad” that Archie and Lilibet might never have the chance to experience the country where he was raised.
Away from the security dispute, the Sussexes have remained busy with their business ventures. Meghan has continued growing her lifestyle brand, As ever, while unveiling new products during a vacation in Europe.
The couple is also expanding its slate of projects through its first-look deal with Netflix, including the upcoming adaptation of No Way Out, inspired by the war in Afghanistan.
