Prince Harry has reportedly declined an offer to stay at Buckingham Palace during his upcoming visit to London for his High Court trial against News Group Newspapers (NGN).
The Duke of Sussex, who is suing the publisher over allegations of phone hacking, is scheduled to travel to the UK later this month. However, Harry, 40, has decided against accepting the offer despite an invitation to stay at the royal residence.
Instead, he is expected to stay elsewhere, continuing the trend from his previous visits when he stayed at Althorp House, the home of his uncle, Earl Charles Spencer. The Duke and his wife, Meghan Markle, were evicted from their previous UK residence, Frogmore Cottage, in 2023, making Buckingham Palace’s offer a significant option that Harry chose to turn down.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams had previously speculated that Harry might resist staying at the palace due to his ongoing, strained relationship with the monarchy. This decision reflects the continued distance between Harry and the royal family following his departure from royal duties in 2020.
In addition to his strained ties with the monarchy, Harry’s security arrangements have changed since stepping down as a senior royal. Unlike before, he no longer has automatic police protection, with his security now being assessed on a case-by-case basis.
The Duke’s legal battle for police protection has been ongoing, and though he lost his fight for automatic protection, he was granted permission in June 2024 to appeal the decision.
